Jueteng back in Pangasinan?

SAN FERNANDO, La Union, Philippines – Police authorities are checking reports that jueteng has allegedly returned in all six districts of Pangasinan.

This, after more than a month of momentary halt at the height of the exposé at the Senate of retired Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz linking local and national personalities to the illegal numbers game.

Chief Superintendent Orlando Mabutas, Ilocos regional police director, said he is still confirming if indeed jueteng has made a comeback, and when confirmed, he would not hesitate to make heads roll in accordance with the one-strike policy.

Sources said a certain Orduna allegedly gave the go-signal for jueteng operators in the six districts to resume their operations.

A certain “Boy Bata” allegedly operates jueteng in Binmaley, Lingayen, Bugallon, and San Fabian towns and Dagupan City, and a certain Mallorca in Bayambang, Malasiqui, Mangaldan, Manaoag and Mapandan towns.

A certain Co supposedly operates in the fifth district, and a certain Marlon, in the sixth district.

In Aguilar, Mangatarem, Urbiztondo and Basista towns, jueteng is taken care of supposedly by a certain Sison, and in Villasis, Sto. Tomas, Alcala, Bautista and Carmen towns, by a certain Bebot.

These operators were supposedly the ones also behind jueteng in the province in the past.

Daily jueteng bets in the six districts of Pangasinan reportedly reach a total of P10 million.