Lina’s head asked for failing to stop jueteng in one year

The opposition Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) asked yesterday Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina Jr. to resign from his post for failing to curb illegal gambling such as jueteng.

This came as the Bulacan police command filed yesterday charges of violation of the Anti-Gambling Law against five suspected gambling lords in the province.

In a statement, PMP spokesman Jesus Crispin Remulla said that Lina should show his word of honor by resigning.

He pointed out that more than a year ago, Lina made a vow to relinquish his post if he would fail to eradicate jueteng in a year’s time.

Remulla then cited Lina’s speech in Dagupan City recently admitting his failure to put an end to the illegal numbers game.

"In an apparent bid to save his face," Remulla said, "Lina challenged Philippine National Police Director-General Hermogenes Ebdane to put an end to jueteng.".

Lina also blamed local government officials for the proliferation of jueteng and other forms of illegal gambling.

Remulla said that buck-passing and blaming anyone else for the fiasco only show that Lina is a traditional politician.

"Instead of being brave enough to honor his own commitment, Lina has only shown how desperate he is in clinging to his post in government by slandering local officials and pinning the blame on the PNP chief," he charged.

He claimed that Lina failed to curb illegal gambling because he has no political will to deal with identified gambling lords who are known allies of Malacanang.

Meanwhile, five suspected gambling lords in Bulacan have been charged with violation of the Anti-Gambling Law before several courts in the province.

Charged were "Abet" Vice, "Boy" Viceo, Abner Nicolas, Otto Balboa, and Lito Samera.

Senior Supt. Felizardo Serapio, Bulacan police provincial director said the filing of the complaint against the five is part of the police’s mopping-up operations against all forms of illegal gambling.

The Viceos are relatives but police authorities would not say if the "Boy" Viceo charged in court is the incumbent mayor of San Rafael town who has the same name.

The two Viceos reportedly operate in San Rafael and Baliuag towns;

Nicolas in Bustos, Pandi, Sta. Maria; Balboa in Malolos, San Ildefonso, Hagonoy and Paombong, and Samera, in Marilao, Bocaue and San Jose del Monte.

Also charged with violating the Anti-Gambling Law were 66 jueteng personnel arrested in 22 towns of the province in the last four days, according to Supt. Anastacio Inoncillo, Bulacan police intelligence and operations officer.

During the raids, some P43,000, seven motorcycles, and an XLT van being used by jueteng personnel as mobile office were also confiscated.

Last August, police authorities claimed that Central Luzon was jueteng -free, although resident laughed off this claim. — With Ric Sapnu