'Jueteng' provided funds for campaign

BANGUED, Abra—Jueteng has made a comeback in this province and in several Tarlac towns and the huge sums of money being collected from the daily operations were reportedly used as election funds by candidates who have expressed willingness to allow the operations of the illicit game.

Intelligence reports in this town said the higher the position of an official protecting jueteng operations, the higher the payola he gets.

Reports said jueteng cannot really be stopped in the province due to the connivance of some police, military, provincial and local officials with jueteng operators.

Draws are reportedly held twice a day, at noon and at 5 p.m., with a total net income of P500,000 daily.

Draws are held in the Abra towns of Lagangilang, La Paz, Pidigan, Dolores, San Juan, Bucay, San Isidro, Villaviciosa, Pilar, Lagayan and Danglas.

Jueteng collectors are reportedly getting candidates from stores, public markets, town halls and even at the provincial capitol here.

In Tarlac province, jueteng bets are reportedly being collected every day in several remote villages of Victoria, La Paz and Pura towns.

Reports said jueteng was resurrected in Tarlac to raise money for the campaign coffers of some political candidates.

Supt. Eric Javier, police director in Tarlac, however, said the illegal numbers game's operation may be merely ''over-spilling from another province.''

Although he refused to name the province, Javier said there are reports that draws are held twice in three Tarlac towns near the Nueva Ecija boundary.

''I already sent out directives to police chiefs of several towns to be on the lookout, especially at the outskirts,'' he said.

Alfred Dizon, PDI Northern Luzon Bureau and Benjie Villa, PDI Central Luzon Desk