Despite officials’ promises: Jueteng thriving in north Luzon

BAGUIO CITY – Despite the promises of incoming officials that they would stop jueteng in their turf if they would be elected, the illegal numbers game is still thriving in almost all provinces of Northern Luzon .

Northern Philippine Times sources identified places where jueteng is in operation. In the Cordillera: Baguio City , the towns of La Trinidad, Itogon, Buguias, Mankayan, Atok and Tuba in Benguet; Tabuk in Kalinga and some towns in Ifugao and Apayao.

In the Ilocos Region, provinces where the illegal numbers game is still thriving are La Union, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and Pangasinan.

In Region 2, provinces included Nueva Vizcaya, Cagayan and Isabela. In Baguio , sources said jueteng is reportedly managed by a city councilor.

In Baguio , according to a source close to mayor-elect Reinaldo Bautista Jr., the city’s chief executive would initiate measures to stop jueteng when the new city council would assume office.

In Malasique, Pangasinan, anti-jueteng crusader Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz said he was banking on the “firm commitment” governor-elect Amado Espino Jr relayed to him during their meeting before and after the elections that his administration would be jueteng-free.

Cruz, chairman of Krusada ng Bayan Laban sa Jueteng (People’s Crusade against jueteng), said Espino, outgoing congressman of the second district, promised “that he, too, will be definitely against jueteng and (illegal) drugs.”

“I think we will have a new gubernatorial leadership style,” Cruz said.

“The province will have a strong leadership and if he so decides, it will be no-hold-barred to rid the provinces of these exploitative ventures,” he added.

However, some sectors downplayed Espino’s commitment, claiming it will possibly be just a “change in the management” of the illegal numbers’ game.

Cruz also lauded third district Congresswoman-elect Rachel Arenas for her resolve to make her district illegal drug- and gambling-free in her Independence Day message on June 13.

Arena, who took her oath of office before Judge Caldona of the Dagupan City Municipal Trial Court, said, “I’m calling on our local officials to help me make our district drug-free and gambling-free.”

Cruz said he “fervently supports (Arenas) for this resolve because illegal drugs and gambling are both moral curses of the people.”

He said he prays that her constituents and fellow public officials would cooperate with her in fighting prohibited drugs and illegal gambling.

Cruz said he also hopes that the police would help Arenas curb these twin problems, adding that “it’s just matter of implementing (the laws against them).”

“It’s a very possible thing to do and I hope other representatives will do the same,” he said.