Cordillera police director: We will run after gambling bosses

Jueteng cum STL operations still on 

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Cordillera policemen will run after gambling financiers --  not only the small fry but in big illegal gambling operations in the region.

This, even as jueteng operators are still running operations under the guise of being small town lottery (STL) in this town, nearby Bagio City and other Bengeut Municipalities like Mankayan and Buguias. 

Cordillera police director Chief Supt. Elmo Sarona said all policemen in six provinces and two cities in the highland region are already conducting operations  against illegal gambling operators and financiers.

 Operators reportedly operate discretely through remote control from pension houses, inns and hotels, as their centers of operations.

Increased surveillance operations are being done to catch the gambling financiers, he said.

Last week, six “small fry” suspects were caught gambling in separate raids in Baguio City. 

Three were hauled to jail after they were caught playing cards along the road of Middle Quirino Hill. Laborer Jordan Ngawet Baniwas, 51, from West Quirino Hill; carpenter Roger Esteban Ruis, 68, a resident of Middle Quirino Hill, Baguio City and Gil Managtag Domingo, 63, from West Quirino Hill were caught playing cards and betting on them.

In another operation, three more were arrested betting while playing cards at Crystal Cave Road, Bakakeng Central. Anito Albina, 47 and Beth Panis, 57, were caught while Julie Salinas escaped.