Jueteng still rampant : Baguio, Benguet execs urged: Stop gambling

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY – With the pronouncement of Interior and Local Government Secretary in waiting Jessie Robredo to stop jueteng nationwide, multisectoral groups in the city and nearby Benguet challenged new officials to prioritize the stoppage of all forms of gambling in their jurisdiction.

Based on the recent inaugural speeches of city, provincial and municipal officials, anti-gambling campaign, particularly against jueteng and other forms of illegal gambling, was never mentioned despite evident jueteng bet collections in Baguio and Benguet the past years.

Religious, women, youth and other civic organizations joined hands in trying to bring to the attention of the new sect of Baguio and Benguet officials the unabated jueteng operations which are even done right in front of the noses of the police, who are supposed to be the implementors of the Anti-Gambling Law.

In Baguio alone, a notice which states “Jueteng Bet Collection is Not Allowed Here” is posted in a conspicuous place in a famous restaurant along Session road, which clearly indicates the existence of jueteng operations that were never attended by previous local and police officials.

Jueteng, the so-called poor man’s game, is drawn thrice daily after collections have been made in various designated stations that are even located near public structures in Baguio and Benguet.
The multi-sectoral groups challenged moralist leaders and dedicated police officers to have the political will in ordering the stoppage of jueteng operations in Baguio and Benguet so that people will be encouraged to work hard to earn income to sustain the living of their families rather than rely on the game of chance for their livelihood.

According to the various organizations, the overused reason that if no one will place their bets, jueteng operations will not exist should not be again used as an alibi by local and police officials since it has been time and again proven that jueteng proliferates in areas where local chief executives and regional, provincial and city police chiefs give their blessings.

While there are some local officials who are not accepting the so-called jueteng payola, the illegal form of gambling still exists in such places because unscrupulous aides of politicians are the ones benefitting from the lucrative business which are often operated by well-known gambling lords in the country.

The multi-sectoral groups claimed they will closely guard the upcoming actions of Baguio and Benguet officials regarding the illegal gambling operations in their respective areas of jurisdiction in order to help restore the morals of the people in the community, thus, they will not hesitate to consistently remind them of their failure to do so to put an end to the rampant corruption considering that the jueteng money goes a long way in the public and police service as well as in the media.

Baguio and Benguet are known juicy areas for jueteng operations because the daily gross collections amount to over P3 million.