475 names on PNP’s illegal gambling list

MANILA, Philippines—It seems the Philippine National Police Tuesday submitted to the Senate a list of gambling operators all over the country which showed some 475 individuals and groups, led by Bong Pineda, deeply entrenched in illegal gambling from “jueteng” to “masiao” and last-two digits.

Senators Francis Escudero and Loren Legarda asked PNP Director General Raul Bacalzo to furnish the Senate blue ribbon committee with its own intelligence report on illegal gambling after retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz submitted his own list earlier in the day.

Bacalzo submitted the document shortly before the probe adjourned at lunch but the committee refused to furnish a copy of the PNP watch list to the public because it was still for further verification. The Inquirer, however, obtained a copy of the report.
The PNP watch list, dated July 12, 2010, had Region 11 (Davao region) with 102 operators (93 in masiao), followed by Region 7 (Central Visayas) with 687 operators (64 in masiao).

Calabarzon and Mimaropa have 64 operators (all jueteng), and Region 10 (Northern Mindanao) has 33 operators (masiao).

Lording it over Region 2

Pineda is listed as the sole jueteng lord in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) and is included among the 17 jueteng operators in Region 3 (Central Luzon).

The PNP monitored 28 jueteng operators in Metro Manila (with 11 in jueteng and 5 involved in the bookies game).

Rounding up the PNP watch list are Region 1 or Ilocos, which has 17 jueteng operators; Region 5 or Bicol region, 23 operators (14 in jueteng); Region 6 or Western Visayas, 24 operators (eight in jueteng and three in lotteng); Region 8 or Eastern Visayas, 26 operators (23 in masiao).

Region 9 or Zamboanga region has 23 operators (14 in masiao); Region 12 or Soccsksargen, 12 operators (eight in masiao); Region 13 or Caraga, 15 operators (nine in last-two digits and five in masiao); Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), four operators (two in last-two digits); and Cordillera Administrative Region, one jueteng operator.

Other gambling lords on the list are the Arce and San Antonio Group in Region 6 (Western Visayas) and Wacky Salud and Hui group/De La Cerna in Central Visayas.

Aside from jueteng, masiao and last-two digits (based on the lotto results), the other illegal games are jai-alai, lotteng, and “sakla.”

Gil Cabacungan, Phil. Daily Inquirer