Thursday, September 30, 2010

No Jueteng In Western Visayas

Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 Director Chief Supt. Samuel D. Pagdilao, Jr. said, “there is no jueteng in Western Visayas unlike in Luzon”.

According to Pagdilao, “only Small Town Lottery (STL) exists in Western Visayas which is a derivative of jueteng but this has been legalized by the government.”

He further said that although STL has been legalized, there are some provinces where it has not been allowed by the local government units (LGUs).

According to Pagdilao, STL is allowed in Iloilo City but not in Iloilo province. Thus, the operators who collect bets in Iloilo province are being charged by the police for their illegal operations. “It (STL) is legal only within the area where the authorized franchise is,” Pagdilao said.

“This is the same case with Bacolod City where STL is not authorized, but it is authorized in Negros Occidental,” added Pagdilao.

“This is why the reported Boy Jalandoni, who is an authorized franchise holder of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office in Negros Occidental and who has been previously reported to operate STL illegally, could have been identified because of his collectors who penetrate Bacolod City.” Pagdilao explained.

But the intelligence report in Negros Occidental has cleared Jalandoni of involvement in illegal gambling.

For Aklan and Antique provinces, the problem on illegal gambling is not much except for the betting on the last two winning numbers of STL and lotto and the cara ‘y cruz or what is locally known as “hantak.” “For Guimaras province where the STL is not being permitted, some Iloilo City operators also illegally operate the numbers game, but their number is small,” added Pagdilao. (PNA) /MP

No comments: