LINGAYEN, Pangasinan - Gov. Victor E. Agbayani renewed his call on the provincial police command to intensify its campaign against illegal gambling, particularly jueteng.

The governor said he has directed Senior Supt. Alan Purisima, provincial police director, to stop jueteng operation in the province.

Gov. Agbayani said he received reports that the illegal numbers game has been revived in some towns.

“I’m told that there are areas that are backsliding, so we have to re-double our efforts in order to preserve the gains that we have achieved so far (against jueteng),” the governor said.

For several weeks, jueteng was grounded to a  halt in the province where the number one anti-jueteng crusader, Archbishop Oscar Cruz of the Lingayen-Dagupan archdiocese, is based.

But the illegal numbers game, which is known to be a primary source of campaign funds for some politicians, has resurfaced in some towns and cities, particularly in central Pangasinan.

Agbayani said he is supportive of the crusade of Archbishop Cruz who chairs the Krusada ng Bayan Laban sa Sugal.

“We tried to stop this for a few months and we were successful. Now, there are reports that there are areas that are backsliding. So we have to  monitor again and alert the PNP so that they will do their job,” he said.

In reiterating his stand against illegal gambling, Agbayani pointed out that the bettors stand to lose in the end while the operators are getting richer.

Meantime, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has decided to close the door for operators of Small Town Lottery (STL) following the public statement of the governor who opposed the idea of allowing STL to operate in Pangasinan.

Vice Gov. Oscar Lambino said they will no longer pursue the committee hearings on the request for the endorsement filed by at least three interested STL operators.

“The agreement (among members of the provincial board) is not to endorse if the governor doesn’t approve,” he said.

The governor called for a consistent policy on gambling on a national scale to avoid confusion among the people.

This is because, he said, there are forms of gambling that are illegal and there are also forms of gambling that are legal (like cockfighting).

Cruz praised the governor for his latest stand against STL.

“I pray that God will continue to guide him in his integrity and courage. I pray that God will continue to guide him and that people of goodwill will appreciate more his job performance,” Cruz said.