Pangasinan ‘jueteng lord’ invited for questioning

SAN CARLOS CITY, Pangasinan – Regional police officials have "invited for questioning" an alleged jueteng lord after receiving reports about "guerrilla-type" operations of the illegal numbers game in this province’s third district.

"We want to show that we are acting on complaints and are doing something against jueteng operations," said Chief Superintendent Arturo Lomibao, Region 1 police director.

Lomibao was referring to text messages and letters of complaint alleging that Bong Cayabyab, known here as "Bong C," was behind jueteng operations here and in the rest of the third district.

Lomibao said he thus ordered Superintendent Rosueto Ricaforte to "invite" Cayab—yab "for questioning."

Cayabyab, he said, voluntarily went to Camp Oscar Florendo, the regional police camp, in San Fernando City, La Union, the other day.

Lomibao said Cayabyab denied the accusations and was allowed to go home in the absence of any evidence against him.

"We cannot force him to admit to something," Lomibao said, adding though that he gave Cayabyab a stern warning.