No more jueteng in Pangasinan, insists police official

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines  – The provincial police director yesterday insisted anew that there is no jueteng in his turf.

This, as retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz earlier called on new Philippine National Police chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome to show his sincerity by stamping out the illegal numbers game in three provinces – Pangasinan, Pampanga, and Tarlac where President Aquino hails from.

Senior Superintendent Rosueto Ricaforte, Pangasinan police director, said Cruz was mistaken when he said that jueteng still exists in the province.

He said Cruz should study well his statements or reports fed to him. “Whoever gives him information (about jueteng) must study it carefully because for a long time now, there is no more jueteng in Pangasinan,” he added.

Sought for comment, Cruz, chairman of the Krusada ng Bayan Laban sa Jueteng, said in a text message to The STAR, “Ha!”

Cruz said the illegal numbers game must be stopped initially in Pampanga, Tarlac and Pangasinan so the people would believe Bartolome’s drive against illegal gambling.

Ricaforte said the Meridien Vista Gaming Corp. operates jai alai in Pangasinan “which is legally based on documents we have,” and that it is not used as front for jueteng.

There are 42 jai alai betting stations in two cities and 35 towns in the province and the police are closely monitoring their activities, Ricaforte said.

On Wednesday, Ricaforte said in a two-page statement, among other issues, that “under the latest government ruling, the operation of jai alai is legal, even in areas outside the premises of the Cagayan Freeport Zone, in accordance with the temporary restraining order dated July 22, 2011 issued by the Court of Appeals. This should put the issue to rest, once and for all.”

Ricaforte also denied a report in a local weekly that he is set to be axed supposedly due to his poor performance.

Under his stewardship of the provincial police, he said crime solution efficiency went up by 17.26 percent.