COMBINED elements of the National Bureau of Investigation and PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group apprehended on daring separate raids at least five persons involved in an illegal numbers racket commonly known as jueteng on the act of collecting bets inside two public markets in Pangasinan the other day.
The operatives said the arrested suspects were collecting jueteng bets from Bagsakan Public Market in Villasis and Public Market in Urdaneta but the lottery was being held thrice a day in Sto. Tomas, Pangsinan where a certain Bebot was reportedly behind the operation of the said illegal numbers game.
NBI said the arrested cavos, bet collectors and operators have pointed to a certain Bebot, who has been considered by police as “untouchable” after he wielded a strong connection from the local officials including high-ranking police officers, as the financier of jueteng in the said province.
The operatives said they acted upon the request of Pangasinan Gov. Amado T. Espino to crackdown all illegal numbers games particularly jueteng in his province. The NBI and CIDG said they immediately stormed Villasis Public Market and Urdaneta Public Market where at least five jueteng maintainers, bet collectors and cavos were arrested while bet money including gambling paraphernalias were confiscated.
NBI National Capital Regional Director Roel Lasala identified the arrested suspects as Miguel Marquez of Anonas Urdaneta, Jorge Madiyek Santos, Marilyn Santiago de Vera – all of Cabiganan, Urdaneta. They were immediately presented to the Pangasinan fiscal’s office who recommended their arrest for violation of P.D. 1602 in relation to R.A. 9287.
In a separate development, the CIDG arrested in Bagsakan Public Market three jueteng personnel identified as Fedirico Oliveros, Maria dela Cruz and Aman Perez, all of Pulay Villasis.
An NBI agent who refused to be named said the arrest came after almost a week of sleuthing and verifying the request of Gov. Espino that jueteng had been proliferated in his province.
“Jueteng has been drawn thrice a day both in these cities because they were being backed up by several influential persons. We won’t stop our operation against jueteng if they still refuse to put an end to this social menace! We are still looking possible coordination with the PNP against this jueteng,” an NBI official said.
