BULL’S HIT

Jueteng guerrillas
Rdy Garcia

I did not personally witness the Baguio City government regular session wherein the city council invited local and regional police top brass to shed light on existence of jueteng in the city. But based on news reports I read, I can’t help but express my displeasure on its outcome.

More clouds of doubt entered into my mind because of the seemingly “bodabil” showdown at the city session hall by some members of the city council and police officials. True, it was earlier reported that the city Council expressed displeasure over the proliferation of jueteng in the city the reason why they invited the police for questioning.

But what happened? As expected, the police made lame excuses for their failure and what did the council do so the issue would not go to nowhere? You can guess, but it’s like a tiresome refrain.

Wouldn’t it have been better if the city council also invited the city mayor? You see, I have said that the existence of irregularities in a locality doesn’t lie alone on the police but the barangay and local government officials as well.

They should not be pointing their fingers at each other. The best they could have done was to make a resolution condemning jueteng, guerilla or not. And part of the resolution should have been the city council was firm in its stand against all forms of illegal gambling like jueteng. The could have submitted copy of the resolution at Malacañang and the Philippine National Police at Camp Crame if they wanted to. And how about the city mayor making administrative or executive orders directing all concerned to go after financiers, operators and protectors of jueteng?

So how about the noted existence of bingoteng in the city? Is bingoteng and jueteng one and the same? Well, I just hope the police will also invite city councilors for a grilling on the existence of bingoteng which according to reports is being operated by one of their colleagues.
If this happens, we will soon be seeing the battle of the true “guerillas” in the city, and of course this will be to the advantage of the financers and the protectors of the so called guerilla jueteng.
Are there going to be another “Erap” and “Chavit” na maraming machachabit? Place your bet!
***
My warm salute to newly elected city councilor Elaine Sembrano for taking a good, hard stand in putting orderliness at the city market. The relief of the entire police force at the BCPO Compac I (Bamarva) of Station 7 was a welcome step of the good councilor.

Most of these policemen have been accused of extorting money from market vendors and even coddling persons with criminal characters. So now, they got what they deserved from the honorable chairperson of the market committee. Maybe they have come to realize now that Sembrano meant business. A far cry from past market committee chair persons who did nothing but to make “papogi” and “pakitang gilas lamang.”

For now, I appreciate the move of Councilor Sembrano. She made a good start. I hope it’s not ningas kugon, right madame? Aksyunan mo pa ang iba! Sampolan!