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Sunday, August 12, 2007
Baguio Council asks cops to explain jueteng proliferation
BAGUIO CITY –- Top police officials will appear before the City Council’s regular session on Monday to explain the proliferation of illegal gambling activities in the city.
Malacañang on the other hand stop the plan of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to increase prices of lotto tickets by 100 percent saying, “its better to lose profit in lotto operations than lose regular patrons to jueteng.”
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The Baguio City Council invited Cordillera Police Regional Director Raul Gonzales, City Police Director Moises Guevarra and City Intelligence chief to shed light on the issue following observation that gambling, particularly jueteng, continues to operate in the city despite standing national and local orders for its stoppage.
The move was broached by Councilor Rocky Thomas Balisong, who first aired his observation on the gambling activities during the department heads’ meeting the other Monday.
“It is of public knowledge that jueteng, slot machines (colalong) and monte, which are forms of illegal gambling, are proliferating in the city,” Balisong noted in his proposed resolution.
He said the existence of “colalong” has been proven by the outcome of raids conducted by the personnel of the Anti-Vice Task Force. The raids yielded slot machines and bingo paraphernalia which were destroyed in public view.
“Parents, especially mothers, often call the attention of some councilors asking for action against the proliferation of slot machines because most of their children of school age are addicted to these slot machines,” the resolution added.
As to jueteng, Balisong said the “existence of jueteng in the city cannot be denied” as bet collectors openly and freely conduct their activities all over the city.
“The proliferation of these forms of gambling casts doubts on the efficiency of the Baguio City Police in curbing these illegal gambling activities,” Balisong stressed.
“In order to know the actual situation of these (activities), there is a need to invite the personnel of the (police) to shed light on the matter to aid the City Council on intended legislations for the purpose.”
Balisong’s proposal was considered by the body jointly and collectively.
The continued existence of jueteng in the countryside is one of the reasons why President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stopped a plan to increase prices of lotto tickets by 100 percent.
“Masyadong seryosong sugal na yan. It’s beyond the reach of the common tao, ang di maka-afford ng lotto baka sa jueteng at illegal numbers sila mag-patronize (Lotto has become such a serious thing for many. Increasing ticket prices may be beyond their reach and they may patronize jueteng again),” said Presidential Management Staff (PMS) chief Cerge Remonde said on government-run radio station dzRB.
He added the order was also “in response to the public clamor.”
PCSO was to double the price of each ticket from P10 to P20 next week. This will cover Super Lotto 6/49, Mega Lotto 6/45 and Lotto 6/42 games.
But ticket prices for three-digit lotto “Swertres” and two-digit lotto “EZ 2” will remain at P10.
PCSO acting spokesman Larry Cedro said the agency was prompted to increase ticket prices after noticing spikes in lotto sales when jackpot prizes soared.
However, Cedro was quick to add that along with the rise in ticket prices also comes the rise in prize pots. (Aileen Refuerzo/JMR/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (August 12, 2007 issue)
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