Police probing jueteng lord claiming to be official’s kin

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Archie Gamboa said Monday, February 24, that they will look into the reported involvement of an alleged relative of a high-ranking police official in jueteng, an illegal numbers game.

“Well, I have read meron apprehension but hindi ko nalaman na relative s’ya ni General Danao. We will look into it but nevertheless wala itong kama kamag-anak,” Gamboa said in a press conference at the Cordillera Police Regional Office over the weekend.

“The more nga na dapat mag ingat ‘yung mga kamag-anak. Ako my roots are from Nueva Ecija and I am not authorizing anybody even my relatives to engage themselves on any illegal activities most especially ‘yung illegal gambling and illegal drugs,” he added.

Gamboa was reacting to the arrest of an alleged relative of Calabarzon Police Regional Office Director Vicente Danao during an anti-illegal gambling operation in Tagaytay City last week.

Danao denied that a relative of his is involved in illegal gambling.

“Kung meron man pong nagpapakilalang kamag-anak ko d'yan, actually isa po yan sa matagal ko nang hinahanap kasi nung bagong dating po ako dito meron daw grease money na sinasabi nilang P5 million daw, wala naman akong hinihingi. Matagal nang ginagamit ‘yung pangalan natin sa katarantaduhan dito sa Calabarzon,” he said in a phone interview.

“Iharap mo sakin at sampalin ko sa harapan nyo. Hindi ko kilala yan. At saka bakit naman ako gagamit ng kamag-anak ko kung sakaling magpapasugal man ako paranag napakaano naman ata well kung may gumagamit man ng pangalan ko baka ginagamit lang po ang pangalan ko as Danao pero definitely hindi po yan inutusan wala akong connection jan,” he added.

Danao said he is ready to face any investigation to clear his name.

He maintained that the anti-illegal gambling operations in Calabarzon remain relentless and that he has reminded his men on the one-strike policy on illegal gambling.

“Well it has been a relentless operation naman since day 1 as a matter of fact kami una nagimplement nyan ang una namin inimplement is ‘yung video karera. We have apprehended at least 376 machines jan basag lahat jan pati ‘yung sinasabi nilang illegal gambling operators at ‘yung lahat ng klaseng illegal gambling,” he said.

A total of 17 people were arrested when police raided two jueteng stations at around 4 p.m. Thursday, February 20, in Barangay Alfonso and Tagaytay City in Cavite.

Those arrested in Tagaytay were identified as Rolando Gutierrez, 48; Maurri Angeles, 52; Jefferson Espino, 27; Willy Lopez, 38; Johna Batino, 60; Josephine Malabanan, 56; Herson Acebuche, 31; Crystalene Macairan, 34; Catherine Javier, 30 and Ramon Baquiran, 40.

In Barangay Alfonso, arrested were Brando Endriga, 39; Eduardo Tampis, 53; Jovit Escasa, 26; Lester San Jose, 27; Czeder Empleo, 24; Ronel Camunas, 32 and at Nicanor Rosano, 48.

Gamboa reminded the police commanders to intensify their campaign against illegal gambling.

“I am reiterating my warning to the regional directors, start relieving your chiefs of police and provincial directors who will not be following my instruction of stopping illegal gambling in all forms in your different areas of responsibilities,” he said.

“Kapag meron kang na-relieve na three chiefs of police in your locality it would mean the automatic relief of the provincial director, no questions asked. Now if majority of your provincial or city directors say for example meron kang lima and ‘yung tatlo would be relieved then automatic din ‘yung relief ng regional director. Kunwari hindi mo lang talaga naagapan ‘yung 3 police stations pero meron ka naman campaign on illegal gambling, it probably would convince us na isolated cases ‘yung 3 but this will undertake an investigation to find out what really happened,” he added.

Earlier, Gamboa gave police regional directors a one-week ultimatum to launch operations to curb illegal gambling in their areas.

For his part, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Debold Sinas said they will map out jueteng activities in Metro Manila.

"I don't believe na NCRPO is affected, it's not. May areas areas lang po," Sinas said. (SunStar Philippines)

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