Daily Tribune
If you think the days of online gambling, such as cockfighting, are over, think again. The gambling ring is now being used as a tool for bribery in local elections.
The government has banned “talpak,” or online derbies, but in Tondo, the practice continues — this time operating underground. It is controlled by a notorious gambling lord who is also running for an elective post in Tondo.
The Tondo pitmaster now seeks to reignite the cockfighting craze in his area, as he has another agenda which is winning a local post.
One of his goals is to generate political influence to spread his illegal operations beyond Tondo.
The app that contained it had metamorphosed into several gambling operations such as color coding (or the pula-puti), lucky nine, and even lo-teng which is the illegal version of lotto.
The racket caters to small-chance gamers as it accepts even a one-peso bet in the new modus that comes with a smartphone app that is capable of sucking hard-earned money from the poorest of the poor.
This gambling boss who is also a local bet in the area openly flaunts the law, being untouched and unchecked.
His target markets are the techie youngsters who have an e-wallet and are engrossed in being online practically the whole day who are susceptible to bribery for him to secure a seat in the Manila government and thus shield his lucrative racket.
Engagements with foreign dignitaries are not uncommon, as the Big Boss is friendly and proudly invites officials to visit the Philippines whenever he’s on an overseas trip or during an important call.
In return for his kindness and hospitality, foreign officials, businessmen, and investors accept his offer and experience authentic Filipino hospitality firsthand.
Meeting the Big Boss is typically scheduled as part of their itinerary, often in the middle of their trip.
To ensure proper messages are being exchanged, VIPs who do not practice English as a first or second language, employ a translator. Sometimes these meetings are done behind closed doors, and media entities rely on information provided by the state bureau supported by the other party’s release.
Remarks made by the Big Boss are sent to the media in full including the context in which specific topics were discussed. However, statements made by his guests are limited to a release and unavailable to the media.
Despite requests from the press and orders from the higher-ups this official from this bureau of the communications department, still keeps on doing his thing which hampers proper reporting of guest visits leaving many lost in translation.
Maybe the third time’s the charm and changes will be made (and looming) as there have been three department chiefs that have been aware of this problem which did not exist when the Big Boss got promoted.
