SAN FABIAN, Pangasinan: Efren Ricaport-Fajardo, an incumbent punong barangay (village chief) and a former major in the Philippine Air Force, who was earlier tagged by the Police Regional Office in Region 1 as an operator of jueteng (illegal numbers game), has vehemently denied the accusation against him. He added that all the 173 people recently arrested by police operatives in simultaneous raids in Dagupan City and the towns of San Fabian, San Jacinto, Binmaley, Malasiqui, Calasiao, Mangatarem and Asingan on August 19 were employees of the GMOC. But on August 19, the GMOC officers, including Fajardo, were surprised when police raided their betting stations, resulting in the arrest of their 173 employees. The Police, led by Azurin, accused Fajardo of being a “jueteng operator.” Fajardo is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy Maalab Class of 1993 and also served as municipal councilor of San Fabian for several years. He and his group thanked Dagupan City and the Provincial Prosecutors Office that immediately issued the outright dismissal of the gambling charges filed by Police operatives against the 173 employees.

Source: Manila Times August 30, 2020 16:07 UTC