Tingog.com

This is why I am always skeptical of politicians especially when it comes time for elections. They don’t have enough money to run a campaign, and they can’t raise the cash needed to fund it so they do it in illegal ways. GMA News recently reported that cops in the Quezon Province are being forced to allow “Jueteng”.

“The local officials want us to just look the other way and allow the operation of jueteng under the shadow of STL (small town lottery). They threatened our chief of police with removal from the post should we disobey the order,” a policeman from one Quezon town disclosed to the Inquirer while submitting papers at the provincial headquarters.

The officer requested anonymity for fear that he would be removed from his post.

“They (politicians) have been negotiating with our chief of police to allow the operation even for just a couple of months during the campaign period. But our chief is holding his ground. He knows that they cannot just order his transfer due to a prevailing Comelec ruling,” said the policeman.

I commend the chief of police for standing his ground, and if this is the case, then he should definitely come out with the details and name names, this is no time to stand your ground but keep quiet as to who these individuals are.

A group of local gamblers, which has strong connections with the town officials, would run the jueteng operation.

Sought for comment, Senior Supt. Victorio Caragan Jr., provincial police chief, warned heads of the local police units not to allow the operation of any illegal numbers game in their areas.

“Whether jueteng or bookies, they should not allow its operation. The only numbers game that has been allowed by law is the STL. They should protect it from the professional gamblers and local officials who want to sabotage its operation,” Caragan said.

Notice that Caragan overtly warns the police officials that are under him, but never warns the gambling lords and local government officials that are behind these operations. It’s pure rhetoric in my opinion, and if Senior Supt. Victorio Caragan Jr. were even remotely serious in his conviction then he would have included these evil entities in his warning. Is he afraid of these officials? It’s easy to threaten your subordinates, but not so when it comes to those who are your equal and those who are in high ranking offices.

The informant that gave this information eluded to the following.

(the informant) identified a certain Biting Salvo as the principal jueteng operator in the Calauag-Tagkawayan area; the group of Edwin Perez, Manny Talavera, Dok Sulido, Ely Oabel and Elvis Luyahan in the Tayabas area; and Nelson Dimailig in the perimeter of Sariaya town.

If this informant is aware of these officials, then surely the provincial police chief is also aware of these individuals. So, what are his statements? What are his warnings, excluding those aimed at his subordinates?

I’m not singling out just this one police chief, but it goes to the fact that officials are quick to point out the little players in the game, but rarely do we see the big players go to jail or even acknowledged to have done any wrongdoings. This is the case with piracy when it comes to DVDS, the small tindahans and side vendors suffer the siege, but rarely is the big businessman ever brought to justice.