Saturday, December 20, 2003
21 nabbed, P4T seized in 5 jueteng raids
By Ernie N. Olson Jr.
A TOTAL of 21 suspected jueteng personnel were arrested and P4,150 in cash bets were seized in a series of lightning raids conducted by undercover operatives of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) on four alleged illegal gambling lairs Wednesday.
Official reports from the BCPO Friday disclosed that the first raid was conducted inside an alleged illegal gambling den along Quirino Highway (formerly Naguilian Road) at around 10 a.m.; three simultaneous raids were made on three dens located at Dizon Subdivision, Wright Park and inside the Aramina Billiard Hall & Videoke Bar at Hilltop at around 10:30 a.m.; while a fifth raid was conducted again inside the same billiard hall at Hilltop at around 9 p.m., all of which happened last Wednesday.
Those arrested in the first raid were identified by Supt. Francisco Manalo Jr., BCPO director, as Jerico Sabado Salango, 18, single, who hails from Pozorrubio, Pangasinan, but who resides at Hamada Subdivision; and Joey Laroza Gayo, 21, single, from Aringay, La Union, and who lives along Quirino Highway.
Senior Insp. Edward Cutiyog, BCPO Station 1 chief, said total cash bets of P800 in various denominations and assorted jueteng paraphernalia were confiscated.
The three arrested during the raid made in Dizon Subdivision were also named by Senior Insp. Lavis Camdas, BCPO Station 2 chief, as Richard Molina Petines, 19, single, jobless, from Pugo, La Union, who lives in San Luis Village; Alfredo Torres Santiago, 19, single, from Bauko, Mt. Province, who resides at Lower Rock Quarry; and Marlon Santos Victorio, 19, single, from Aringay, La Union, a resident of Kisad Road. Cash bets of P825 and an assortment of jueteng paraphernalia were also seized then.
Another three, who were taken in after a simultaneous raid at Wright Park in Pacdal, were also identified by Senior Insp. David Mariano, BCPO Station 3 chief, as Joel Estacio Garcia, 28, a taxicab driver from Rosario, La Union; Mark Santos Dolores, 20, single, from Agoo, La Union, who lives a Palma Street; and Alfred Cruz Ventura, single, from Dagupan City, Pangasinan, who also resides at Palma Street. Reportedly confiscated from them was P425 in cash bets and assorted gambling paraphernalia.
Four others, who were also arrested during another simultaneous raid inside the Aramina Billiard Hall at Hilltop, were also named by Supt. David Lacdan, BCPO Station 7 chief, as Arnold Salian dela Vega, 19, single, from Pozorrubio, Pangasinan, who lives at Irisan; Mar Barles Buado, 32, married, from Binalonan, Pangasinan, who resides at Apugan, Puliwes; Jack Buado Santos, 21, single, from Aringay, La Union, who lives at Upper Quirino - Magsaysay Subdivision; and Mike Butaleg Cortez, 19, single, from Calasiao, Pangasinan, who resides at Queen of Peace Road. Reportedly seized from them then along with assorted jueteng paraphernalia was P400 cash in different denominations.
Apparently thinking that the situation has died down, 10 more suspected jueteng personnel were also collared that same evening, after another police team raided the same establishment.
Five of the nine arrested suspects were named as Gerald Villanueva Bautista, 27, single; Jayson de Leon Manahan, 26, single; Jerome Savilla Aldeya, 24; Renato Garcia Magtibay, 48, married; and Rodel Santos Martinez, 29, married. All were reported to be from Quezon Province and residents of Tiptop, Ambuklao Road, Pacdal.
Three others were also identified as Felix Ortega Rosales, 50, married; Arvin Lopez Mahirang, 32, single; and Romeo Velasquez Banaag, 41, single. These three were said to be from Batangas City and residents of the same place in Pacdal.
The last suspect was Jun Madrigal Villena, 29, married, who hails from Lucena City and also resides in the same safehouse at Tiptop. Seized from his group at around 9 p.m. Wednesday was P1,700 in cash bets and assorted jueteng paraphernalia.
Manalo, meanwhile, said all 21 suspected jueteng personnel were detained at the Baguio City jail on charges for their alleged violation of Presidential Decree 1602 upon the instructions of City Prosecutor Benedicto Carantes and duty inquest Prosecutors Margarita Manalo and Elmer Sagsago.
(December 20, 2003 issue)
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