Local officials operate illegal gambling in Abra

By Christian D. Supnad

BANGUED, Abra- Corrupt local officials here are now themselves the ones operating the illegal gambling in this poor province, according to reliable sources.

The resumption of jueteng came after few months of lying low and the illegal number game resumed with a vengeance as the collectors now roaming freely throughout the province to collect bets.

Newsmen personally witnessed bettors collecting bets even inside the provincial capitol building and municipal halls, distracting government personnel’s work who were also seen betting during office hours.

Jueteng collectors appeared immune from arrest since they were roaming and collecting while local officials and police watched without being questioned.

“Napigsa ngamin ti kapit da dagita agpapa jueteng ta awan mangtiliw kaniada uray sangon-sango ditoy kapitolyo, ( Jueteng operators and collectors are so powerful that no one has the guts to apprehend them even if they collect bets in front of the provincial capitol), ” said a capitol employee.

The resurgence of the illegal numbers game here has resumed when Gov. Takits Bersamin went to the United States recently prompting jueteng operators to play the illegal number games.

Efforts by newsmen to get the side of Chief Supt. Villamor Bumanglag, regional police director of Cordillera region and Senior Supt. AmandoLagiwid, Abra provincial police director, proved futile as they could not be contacted as of this writing.

Sources said operators cannot operate without the blessing of corrupt local and police officials here.