Robredo on jueteng: ‘Strike’ policy not effective

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO
March L. Fianza

Among the 13 advocacies that the Catholic Church has drawn up that may help the new administration was to “stop illegal gambling by arresting and prosecuting gambling lords.”

However, based on statements made by Sec. Jesse Robredo of the Department of Interior and Local Government, no action relative to what the religion sector wants is forthcoming.

Robredo finished degrees in Industrial Management Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at the De La Salle University. He graduated Masters in Public Ad at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard U.

Varied reactions, both negative and positive, met P-NOY’s pronouncement to stop illegal gambling activities in LGUs. Local executives who know the extent of the problem in their areas look at that as a tall order.

Although there are those who believe that the new administration is serious when it said through the newspapers that it would quash efforts that perpetrate all forms of illegal gambling.

The one-strike and three-strike policies that were applied by the past administration in its attempt to fight jueteng, according to Sec. Robredo, were not effective, since after the third strike, jueteng problem stayed.

I agree with the former Naga City mayor’s observation. In fact, such policy if it was, failed miserably because the strikes were not “strikes” at all. Instead, these were factors that even promoted police directors to better positions.

Then police chief Arturo Lomibao replaced the three-strike policy with the one-strike policy for police directors who fail to stamp out jueteng in their area, where said police chiefs would be relieved once a jueteng bettor, collector or operator is arrested in their area.

Under the "three-strike policy," a police director is sacked when jueteng operation in his area is hit in three successive raids.

But in some cases in the past, police officers known to be protectors of illegal gambling, particularly jueteng, were even promoted before the “strike” policy was applied.

Still in some cases, it looked like the strike policy became a constant reminder for the jueteng operators and their protectors to keep the contributions coming for the bosses upstairs, “or else!”

Robredo said, he has tried to end jueteng a number of times in Naga but it has become more complicated, so that there is a need to find a systemic solution to stop illegal gambling.

Admittedly, he has read reports that the PNP was doing something about it, at least. Maybe he was referring to news reports about PNP Chief Jesus Verzosa who issued a directive to intensify operations against all forms of illegal activities including illegal gambling.

Jueteng was the topic during Verzosa’s visit to Baguio . But while he asked lawmakers in the city to stop finger-pointing and instead, work together with the police and come up with a better solution, I was wondering if he would say the same to the bigger operators in Pampanga.

Robredo, during the presscon held after the 23rd Cordillera anniversary program, said he will talk discuss with officials of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and other agencies in order to arrive at a systemic solution to illegal gambling.

In the meantime, jueteng thrives in Baguio , Benguet and in every corner of the country because no LGU executive has ordered his police chief to stop jueteng in their areas. Of course, police chiefs refuse to follow the order of P-NOY if the local executive does not say so.
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The legendary Conrad Marzan has gone back to “Uncle Sam’s Arms” last week to start practicing for “The Fireplace Gathering,” a concert being co-organized by Hec Cruz, Ivan Reyes and Ed Montemayor of Canada . This will be held at the Thorn Cliff – Greenview Community Center , 5600 Center Street, NE Calgary , AB on September 4, 2010.

By the way, “Saturday Night: Live at Kaleis,” the concert organized at the Kaleis Grille on July 10, 2010 has earned P31,122.00 for nine-year old heart patient Delson Lipawen of Longlong Elementary School.

Indeed, volunteerism from different sectors, whether in cash, talent sharing or in any form, has again proven that it can easily go a long way if pooled together to become a community effort.

In behalf of Delson, I thank the following for sharing their time and resources: Kaleis management and staff led by Felipe Caoili Jr and Claude Corpuz Jr., La Trinidad Mayor Greg Abalos, La TrinidadAdministrator Charles Canuto, Beneco Director for La Trinidad Joey Marrero; Dr. Benny Pul-oc;

Mr. D.R., the patron-friend of musicians who always chooses to remain unidentified; Libnah Oakes, Soliel Marzan-Cachero and Tammy Marzan who manned the entrance, and to their Aunts Pilar and Mary Ann who listened to Conrad on separate tables; Mondacs, my neighbor in this paper and concert-for-a-cause lifetime emcee;

Engr. Tony Valdez who kept the brandy flowing; waterboys Uncle Joey Zambrano and Jon Llanes who forgot to pay their tickets; Roger Sinot who brought home Delson and his parents, Harley Palangchao, Karl Carino Taawan and Larry Madarang for shooting cameras with no films;

BluGraz of lawyers Bubut Olarte, Rolly Vergara, Angie Togade, Nes Mondok and Alma Sara; Conrad who came all the way from the US just to perform in the concert; Grupong Binhi, Sammy Comiles and Seldom Seen; Bow Pedals & Necks, Felix Tayaotao, Sumitra, Alfred Dizon, Dennis Tabbang, Art Tampoa, Ernie Caccam;

Nomar Simeon, Kirby Comiles, Yeng Ako Borja & co.; councilors Francis, Von and Rod; those who got hold of tickets that have yet to be returned or were returned after the activity; and to all who supported the concert. Peace be with you. – marchfianza777@yahoo.com