ISABELA

‘Jueteng’ operations rampant in Isabela despite attempts to stop it
BY JOAN CAPUNA

ILAGAN, Isabela -- The illegal numbers game of "jueteng" continues to proliferate in this province despite concerted attempts by Church and non-government organizations to stop it.

Sources said operators were taking advantage of the still volatile post-election situation here.

Jueteng had reportedly been expanding in all the province’s 33 towns, including this capital and two cities – Santiago and Cauayan - with some areas having two or three draws per day, sources said.

"While jueteng took a respite in most parts of Luzon during the political season, here it never stopped. Instead, it became more rampant and glaring," said a Catholic priest.

Some places, like Santiago City, even have more than one jueteng management or operator operating at the same time, indicating that the operators are raking in hundreds of thousands per day or millions a month, sources said.

The two jueteng operators come out with draws three times a day, or equivalent to six draws for one day, probably unprecedented in the country’s history of illegal gambling.

"Thanks to the city leadership for they have been allowing it to happen. Obviously, they want it to happen," said a local mediaman.

Police provincial director Senior Supt. Dominador Aquino had admitted that previously, policemen here had given only secondary attention to jueteng due to last month’s elections, which has not yet been settled, particularly in the gubernatorial race.

"Rest assured that we would look into the situation. We can’t allow any illegal activity to thrive under my watch," he said.

Gov. Grace Padaca, a vehement opponent of the illegal numbers game, had earlier accused jueteng operators of working for her removal as governor, by financing the campaigns of her opponents due to her rabid anti-jueteng stand.

She is now caught in a tight race with former governor Benjamin Dy, who had admitted earlier to receiving money from jueteng operators when he was governor, but said the money was used entirely for development projects.

Meanwhile, jueteng, according to reliable sources, also resurged in neighboring Quirino Province days after the elections. Its operations were reportedly being managed by operators in Isabela.