This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com).
Vol. VI, No. 45,
Dec. 17-23, 2006
Jueteng
Operated by Baguio Local Execs Raided
Jueteng
operations in Baguio City allegedly hiding under the cloak of legalized
bingo met a big stumbling block last week when Cordillera policemen
simultaneously raided “gambling dens” including a barangay (village) hall.
BY ACE ALEGRE
Contributed to Bulatlat
BAGUIO CITY (246 kms. north of
Manila) – Jueteng operations in the city allegedly hiding under the
cloak of legalized bingo met a big stumbling block last week when
Cordillera policemen simultaneously raided “gambling dens” including a
barangay (village) hall.
At least 49 alleged jueteng kubradores (bet collectors) and
revisadores(checkers) were hauled to Camp Dangwa in La Trinidad,
Benguet to face violations of anti-gambling laws as Cordillera police
intelligence and investigation division chief S/Supt. Ulysses Abellera
insisted that the “Bingo sa Barangay” operation in the city and adjacent
towns here is actually jueteng.
“We have confirmed reports
that it is jueteng and not bingo,” Abellera told reporters after the
raid. “The Cordillera police have been receiving negative feedback on the bingo-teng
operations, and after several months of verification, we found out that it was
actually jueteng.”
Two weeks before, a local court declared the Bingo sa Barangay operated by the
Association of Barangay Council (ABC) as legal in the midst of criticisms that
such operation was jueteng masquerading as bingo raffle draws, the
proceeds of which were supposed to fund barangay development projects. Its
promoters led by ABC head Rufino Panagan who sits in the City Council, and
Trancoville barangay chairman Albert Della had been insisting that it is
perfectly legal as they are invoking the right of barangays to generate funds in
accordance with their “fiscal autonomy.”
At least P50,000 ($1,012.86 at an exchange rate of $1=P 49.365) worth of bets in
various denominations and bingo-teng parapharnelia were brought as evidences
against the 47 arrested bingo-teng employees. The items also included
papelitos (betting receipts) very similar to those used in jueteng
operations and cards where the numbers of the three-draw-a-day operations were
indicated.
Abellera, who is also a lawyer, insists that what the court declared legal was
bingo and not jueteng. But the operators were drawing only two numbers,
he said.
Abellera however did not say if they will go after operators of the bingo-teng,
even as one of the two alleged dens raided on Thursday was the Trancoville
Barangay Hall.
Lawyer Edgar Avila, defending the bingo-teng operations, told reporters that they would file illegal arrest, contempt of court and robbery raps against the policemen this week. Bulatlat
© 2006 Bulatlat ■ Alipato Media Center
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