Philippines Gambling Joint Stomped by Police Special Action Force

Last Wednesday in the municipality of Barangay Marcelo H. del Pilar within Bayambang, Pangasinan, Philippine National Police Special Action Force elite commandos raided a gambling den specializing in jueteng.

Despite being against Philippine gambling laws, Jueteng is a very popular wagering game of Chinese origin which is somewhat like a online bingo game in the Philippines. The name of the game means “flower bet”. Participants choose any two numbers between 1 and 37. These numbers are record on tickets called papelitos . Eventually two balls are each individually selected from two distinct sets of 37 numbered balls each. The odds are only 1 out of 1,369, but the payout is typically only 800 to 1.

Chief Inspector Marlou Conag reported that his squad succeeded in sneaking into the unlawful gambling den and surprised the participants. Barangay Marcelo H. del Pilar’s chairman and councilors were there to witness the incursion.

During the raid, the police confiscated 5,599 PHP (128.28 USD) and assorted jueteng paraphernalia including papelitos, calculators, stamping pads, and ticklers (surveys of gamblers, odds, etc. to excite players towards wagering). Additionally, nineteen alleged jueteng cabos (game managers who keep the game honest) and rebisadors (bet collectors) where arrested and will be charged with violating Philippine gambling laws.

Conag asserted “The success of this operation manifests the flexibility of the SAF in conducting other operations effectively.” Moreover, he emphasized the SAF’s pledge to maintain the Aquino’s government attack on unlawful wagering and other crimes. During the previous month, SAF agents stormed another jueteng joint in San Pablo City. Last September, the national bank entered the fight to stop illegal gambling in the Philippines.