3 suspected ‘jueteng,’ ‘bookies’ bet collectors nabbed in Quezon

LUCENA CITY – Police arrested two suspected bet collectors of illegal numbers game “jueteng” in Calauag town in Quezon province and a suspected bet collector of an illegal operation of government-run Small Town Lottery (STL) or “bookies” in Mauban town on Saturday, police said.

Anti-illegal gambling operatives nabbed Welson Locito and Elizabeth Diocariza when they were caught collecting money bets for “jueteng” in Barangay (village) Pinagsakayan around 5 p.m.

Some pieces of “lastillas” (list of bets), assorted jueteng paraphernalia, and bet money of different denominations were confiscated.

In August, at least nine suspected jueteng bet collectors were also caught in Calauag.

Two other suspects, one of them an alias “Boss Beting,” a veteran operative tagged as a known jueteng financier, escaped.

Sources from police intelligence revealed that jueteng operations are making a comeback in other parts of the province.

Guerilla-type jueteng activities being operated by small-time gamblers from Batangas and Bicol occasionally managed to sneak in and collect bets in towns along Quezon boundaries but hold draws outside the provincial territory.

Meanwhile, in Mauban town, Calixto Villania, a suspected bet collector of an illegal operation of STL or “bookies,” was arrested in Barangay Bagong Bayan around 12:10 p.m.

Authorities confiscated several “lastillas” or bet collection lists and bet money in different denominations from the suspects.

Police said the suspect failed to produce legitimate identification cards issued by Pirouette Gaming Corp., the licensed STL operator in the province.

The suspects were charged with violation of Republic Act 9287 (An Act Increasing The Penalties for Illegal Numbers Game, Amending Certain Provision of Presidential Act 1602 and for Other Purposes). /je