Gov. Erico Aumentado again issued the marching orders last Friday for the PNP provincial office to launch a massive crackdown against the illegal numbers game called "Suertres" all over the province.

We say "again" because if out memory serves us right, the governor issued the same order to Supt. Arturo Evangelista shortly before the Holy Week. Four months have passed and "Suertres" is reportedly flourishing in every nook and corner of Bohol.

As far as we know, there's no stopping for the "Suertres" operation now. The daily operation of the illegal numbers game in the province now easily reaches almost a million pesos on remittances from ushers. Happy days are here again for illegal gamblers!

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Unlike "masiao" which results were known only from "computer" sheets before, "Suertres" now based its daily results, including a noontime draw, from the Lotto draw in Manila.

Lotto outlets here also sell legitimate "Suertres" tickets for ten pesos per unit which could win as much as P4,500. But there are days when betting on a particular number combination is barred by the Lotto outlets. So the natural reaction of regular bettors is to go to an illegal "Suertres" usher who sells cheaper units at one peso with a chance to win P800. For every bet of five units, there is even a bonus of one unit. So you pay only P5 for 6 units.

No wonder that the illegal "Suertres" operation in the province has grown by leaps and bounds in just four months. "Pagmata na mo oy!"

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Last Friday, the city government made a presentation of its Public Governance System (PGS) scorecard at the plush Flushing Meadows in Dao, Dauis town.

The presentation was a follow-up of the PGS working session last year with the Institute of Solidarity for Asia and serve as an opportunity to update how well the city is fairing on its goals and targets.

City Mayor Dan Neri Lim led the presentation participated in by City Planning Officer Ed Macalandag and City SP Secretary Alma Aparece.

Vice Mayor Nuevas Montes and other department heads and representatives of the private sector led by Norris Oculam and Loy Palapos of the Bohol Chamber of Commerce including Deputy Mayor Mario Uy attended the presentation. City Councilors Betty Torralba and Archie Samiento and yours truly were also present.

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SP UPDATES. The 9th Sangguniang Panlungsod of Tagbilaran passed last Wednesday Proposed Resolution No. 119-06 authorizing City Mayor Dan Neri Lim to release the incentive allowance to employees of the national government agencies in the amount of P3,000.00 per employee covering the first half of 2006 pursuant to the annual city budget.

City Councilor Edgar Bompat also rendered the report on our attendance to the 1st National Conference on Tricycle Transportation Development in Iloilo City last June 20 to 30. The conference delve mainly on the phase out of two-stroke motorcycles by the end of this year pursuant to law.

During the executive session, we also tackled on the reconsideration of Resolution No. 2005-028 declaring Supplemental Ordinance No. 10 of the city sanggunian as valid except the granting of the economic amelioration to city officials and employees.

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INBOX. We published last Wednesday the TBTK update from Bart Auza of Weslaco, Texas through e-mail.

Glen Navarro and Neneng Corales also sent forwarded e-mails last week including that of Hermes Quijada.

Unfortunately, our inbox is now filled with these annoying e-mails from abroad about business and financial transactions which are not only bogus but are already in the level of swindling.

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