No jueteng in P’panga,cop chiefs declare

By George Trillo

ANGELES CITY – The police directors of Pampanga and this city denied claims jueteng persists in their turfs, but admitted “bookies” have persisted as they capitalize on the legal operations of the small town lottery (STL).

“I am not privy to reports that jueteng persists in Pampanga. I don’t think we have jueteng in the province,” said Senior Supt. Keith Singian, provincial police director.

Senior Supt. Felixberto Castillo, who was installed as Angeles City police chief last month, also issued the same denial.

Castillo took over after Senior Supt. George Gaddi was sacked following a violent raid on the Lake Tahoe STL office here.

Castillo alleged some STL employees were engaged in “bookies,” which he said some people mistook as jueteng.

The Lake Tahoe office was padlocked during the raid, but Castillo said it reopened last Monday after “compromise talks” with city officials.

Earlier, Pampanga first district Rep. Carmelo Lazatin, vice chairman of the House of committee on games and amusement, cited reports that jueteng rakes in P90 million monthly in this city and P900 million in other parts of Pampanga.

He said the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, which runs STL, and the local governments hosting STL operations are losing out to the popular illegal numbers game.

But Singian said the “bookies” of some STL employees, particularly in Mabalacat and Magalang towns, are being mistaken as jueteng operations.

“What these STL bet collectors do is remit only 50 percent of the bets to the STL operator and retain the other 50 percent for bookies,” he said.