DAGUPAN CITY – A former Air Force official has been accused of operating jueteng (illegal numbers game) in Pangasinan, that was shut down by the police this week.
The Ilocos police arrested 173 suspects during the Aug. 19 police operation in Dagupan City and several Pangasinan towns, which crippled the games allegedly organized by a village chair in San Fabian town, said Police Brigadier General Rodolfo Azurin, regional director.
The alleged mastermind used to serve the Philippine Air Force (PAF), after graduating in 1993 as a member of the Philippine Military Academy Maalab Class, the police said.
Azurin said in a report that the crackdown led to the seizure of P862,665 in bet money that were placed in Calasiao, Mangatarem, San Jacinto, San Fabian, Malasiqui, Asingan, Dagupan, and Binmaley.
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office suspended all gaming activities, including Small Town Lotteries and Peryahan ng Bayan when Luzon was locked down in March.