PNP News Releases 2006

LUZON REGIONS CLOSELY MONITORED FOR JUETENG ACTIVITIES

Intelligence agents of the Anti-Illegal Gambling Special Operations Task Force are closely monitoring all regions in Luzon for the reported resurgence of jueteng activities in these areas.

On orders of PNP Chief, Director General Oscar C Calderon, AIG-SOTF operatives fanned-out to various provinces in the Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley region, Cordillera, Central Luzon, Southern Luzon and Bicol region to continue monitoring and validation operations of reported jueteng activities in these areas.

"The 1-3-2 Strike Policy shall remain inviolable. And I expect all police commanders down the line to strictly follow the specific directive to intensify police operations against all forms of illegal gambling activity," Calderon said.

According to PNP Spokesman, Senior Superintendent Samuel D Pagdilao Jr., the Chief PNP has warned that police commanders who are found remiss in their duty to implement the directive shall suffer the same fate as the three police officials in Nueva Vizcaya who were the latest to be relieved from post over their alleged failure to stop jueteng.

Relieved from post were the Acting Provincial Director, Senior Superintendent Rogelio Damazo; the Provincial Intelligence Officer, Superintendent Agripino Lopez Jr.; and Solano Chief of Police, Superintendent Dionisio De Guzman.

More than 40 PNP unit commanders had since been relieved from post in accordance with the 1-3-2 Strike Policy.

This developed as the PNP sought the assistance of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in identifying legitimate franchise operators of Small Town Lottery (STL) in some provinces.

The move aims to ferret out legitimate STL operators from jueteng syndicates who are taking advantage of the popularity of STL as a cover for jueteng activities.

In some cases, reports reaching Camp Crame indicate that jueteng syndicates in some areas also double as legitimate STL operators.

"We are calling on all sectrors to help as it is wrong to completely rely on the police to provide the ultimate solution that will permanently put an end to this age-old problem of jueteng," Pagdilao said.