‘No sacred cows in gov’t crackdown on illegal gambling’

MANILA, Philippines -  There will be no sacred cows in the Duterte administration’s crackdown on illegal gambling, Malacañang reiterated yesterday.

“It will be under the proper authorities to make sure that Atong Ang will comply,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will look into the allegations hurled by Ang against Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. 

In a Department Order issued yesterday, Aguirre himself ordered the NBI to conduct an investigation and case buildup on Ang’s accusations.

The NBI, which was also implicated by Ang in an alleged plot to kill him, is under the administrative supervision of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Last week, Ang accused Aguirre and Esperon of plotting to kill him to stop the gambling operations of his Meridien Vista Gaming Corp. to expand the government’s small-town lottery.

Aguirre has denied the allegation, branding it as a “demolition job against me, in conspiracy with the destabilizers of the Duterte administration.”

Last week, police raided the gambling dens of Meridien in Tuguegarao City and Enrile and Peñablanca towns and arrested 63 people involved in jueteng operations. 

Cash and computer units were seized during the raid.        – With Edu Punay