It's intrigue, decries prov'l administrator
Posted on February 10, 2003 - Filed Under News |
LINGAYEN — As the operation of jueteng in Pangasinan has resurged, reports are rife that the new gambling lord has bribed certain provincial officials, including the governor, in exchange for a smooth operation.
But the report on the red Expedition car published in this paper last week, as having been given allegedly by the new operator to Governor Agbayani was vehemently denied by lawyer Virgilio Solis, provincial administrator.
In a phone interview , Solis said “That’s not true. The governor doesn’t have any Expedition (car).”
He said that the governor is not dealing with Bong Pineda, the suspected new operator in the province, or his men. “The governor only has a Pajero which is a government car and has an old Safari car which he used before becoming the governor.”
When told that the red Expedition car is used only by Agbayani whnever he is outside Pangasinan, Solis said,” I can assure you he doesn’t have that car. You can take my word for that.”
Solis added that they don’t know anything about the resurgence of jueteng until they heard it only in radio broadcasts and newspaper reports. “Ang alam namin wala ng jueteng pero sa media sabi nila one week na daw meron uli, (What we knew about if there’s no more jueteng but in the media they said it’s been a week that it resurged)” Solis said.
When asked by The PUNCH about the renewed jueteng operation under Bong Pineda in Pangasinan, Senior Superintendent Arturo Cacdac Jr, provincial director said in a text message that “We are validating the information. No let up in our drive against gambling.”
He added that last month they launched 22 operations and arrested 73 persons, confiscated P16,440.45 bets and in January 2 to 18 operations, 97 were arrested and P30,000 bets confiscated.
However, observers say the arrests made were meant only to pave the way for the operation of new jueteng management which is described as more extensive and has the blessings of concerned police and local government officials.
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, former president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, noted that the “poor become poorer, the rich become even richer, and the authorities become incapable with all the law at their command, with all the power in their hands.”
He said this is what jueteng does-even in the otherwise peaceful and lovable province of Pangasinan.
Cruz said that the multi-sectoral national civic crusade against jueteng is active. “But where are those in government? The casinos are evil enough. Must we still add to it the vice of jueteng?”
He said that Senate Bills No. 2083 and 2091 filed by Senators Barbers and DE Castro respectively have the full support and endorsement of the National Crusade Against Jueteng called “Jueteng- Free Philippines”.
Meanwhile, Pangasinan third district Rep. Generoso Tulagan has filed a resolution number 954 “urgently directing the House of Representatives through the Committee on Games and Amusements and the Committee on Public Order and Security to immediately conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, into the alleged rampant presence of the illegal numbers game locally known as jueteng in San Carlos City, third district of Pangasinan based on a survey conducted by the Catholic Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan Province of Pangasinan.”
Tulagan said in his resolution that in the thrid district of Pangasinan daily jueteng draws are made with impunity in the City of San Carlos, transforming the city into Jueteng Capital of Region I.
He added that the non-stoppage of operation of all forms of illegal numbers game in the third district, particularly San Carlos City, will defeat the ongoing campaign against jueteng operations.
In a radio interview at dzWN Bombo Radyo last week, San Carlos City Mayor Julian Resuello said he is supporting Tulagan’s crusade.
He said he had issued various directives to his police to stop jueteng, as well as other illegal activities in his city.
However, he felt peeved by his city's being singled out by the congressman, saying,” Baka po makasira sa kanya ‘yan at mukhang namumulitika po ‘yong mama (That might destroy him at it seems he is just politicking).”
Asked whether jueteng still persists in his city, Resuello said in Filipino that he is investigating all the happenings in his city and whatever happens in his city also happens in other towns.
Resuello said he is sincere when he earlier challenged Tulagan to file a resolution calling for an investigation by Congress about the proliferation of jueteng in Pangasinan, not only San Carlos City.
Vice Governor Oscar Lambino said in an interview at dzSD Super Radyo Dagupan that the provincial board is set to summon, in aid of legislation, Cacdac to shed light on the comeback of jueteng operations in Pangasinan.
Lambino said the probe will be held sometime February 14 but this might be postponed as Agbayani is set to deliver his state of the province address on the same day before the provincial board.
“I will initiate an inquiry in fairness to everybody,” Lambino, presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, said as there are reports on the alleged bribery attempt on some top provincial officials made by the new jueteng operator in Pangasinan after observers noticed the provincial board was now silent on this issue.– ECV
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