Baguio City officials press campaign against jueteng

BAGUIO CITY – Jueteng operations here are still on despite a commitment of Mayor Mauricio Domogan to stop the illegal numbers game in his recent State of the City Address.

The mayor earlier directed members of the city’s anti-gambling group, Task Force Jupiter, to intensify operations to stop illegal gambling in the city as he called on citizens not to bet so gambling operations will subside.

Domogan said in his first year in office, law enforcers have conducted 39 illegal gambling operations that led to the arrest of 124 personalities and confiscation of more than P40,000 cash bets and assorted gambling paraphernalia in the city.

In addition, 33 illegal gambling cases were also already filed in court against arrested gambling personalities.

He reiterated importance of the public’s participation in the fight against illegal gambling. “There will be no gambling if there are no bettors. There will be no gambling if there are no gamblers.”

The city council earlier approved a resolution proposed by Councilor Edison Bilog, requesting for the National Bureau of Investigation and the Baguio City Police Office to conduct an investigation on the alleged existence of jueteng in the city.
The resolution also called for the arrest of bet collectors and individual involved in illegal gambling should the investigation finds out jueteng is still prevalent in the city.

The city council also earlier passed a resolution banning the operation of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes’ “Loteryang Bayan in the city.

This, as city police information officer Insp. Karissma Sta. Juana, in an interview during the PIA Hour radio program over DZWT last week said they have arrested some ‘jueteng’ bet collectors in the city although ‘jueteng draws are being done elsewhere or outside the city.

She said city police and the NBI are now conducting investigation and intelligence data gathering, in response to the city council resolution requesting for such action.

For the city police’s anti-illegal gambling drive, Sta. Juana reported that from January to July of this year, they have already conducted 18 anti-illegal gambling operations which resulted to the arrest of 58 people, filing of 16 cases and confiscation of gambling bets, equipment and other paraphernalia.

In line with this, Sta. Juana called on the citizenry to help in the city’s fight against illegal gambling and report or share information to the BCPO on any illegal gambling activities in their areas, as well as other criminal or lawless activities.

To those who have some information or any report or even complains, the BCPO hotlines are 09204222861 (Smart), 09175758993 (Globe), 4427944 and 4421211 (PLDT), 3046997 (DIGITEL) or dial 166.