By JING VILLAMENTE REPORTER
The Manila Times
The Manila Times
MOVED by The Manila Times exposé on jueteng, newly installed Philippine National Police Intelligence Group (PNP IG) Director Abelardo Villacorta on Wednesday ordered a manhunt and arrest of a former policeman, who allegedly uses his name and office in collecting jueteng payola and other illegal gambling operations in Southern Tagalog.
Villacorta identified the suspect as Mauro Noriega, alias Ares, Nori and Ace, a former member of the Western Police District who, reports said, had taken over the illegal gambling operations in the the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) provinces following the death of alleged illegal gambling operator, Vic Siman.
Barely three weeks in his post, the Intelligence chief said that he has never been involved, or engaged in illegal gambling racket and it is a very remote possibility that he would know, or coddle people like Noriega.
“I have created a tracker team and ordered them to conduct manhunt operations and work for the arrest of Noriega and his companions, who are reportedly using my name and my office in their illegal activities,” Villacorta said.
“Since I assumed the post as PNP IG chief, I have reiterated to all my officers and men that our “No Take” policy will continue and anyone who will defy it would be sanctioned and relieved from their posts,” he added.
Villacorta also urged the public to immediately report to his office at the Intelligence headquarters in Camp Crame, or through (0927)307-3501 of any illegal activity using his name, or his office by anybody, particularly Noriega and his cohorts.
According to him, the Intelligence office’s mandate is only for intelligence gathering on the government’s anti-insurgency and other related peace and order campaigns.
“Our office has no mandate to conduct anti-illegal gambling operations and we advise the public to report to us any uniformed, or civilian agents using our name in protecting gambling dens and securing illegal gambling payola,” Villacorta said. “These impostor-criminals must be arrested.”
Unconfirmed reports said that Noriega and his cohorts are now allegedly running gambling operations in Laguna province, particularly in the cities of Calamba and Santa Rosa and in the towns of Cabuyao, Biñan and San Pedro.
These areas are reportedly the turf of Siman who, along with 12 other companions, were killed in an alleged shootout with Army and National Police personnel in a checkpoint along the highway in Atimonan, Quezon province on January 6.
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