BEHIND THE SCENES

Declaring ‘war’against jueteng
Alfred P. Dizon

With the new set of elective officials coming in and taking over their posts, it would be worth watching those who would categorically state they would go against jueteng. They should include the issue in their inaugural speeches.

The bottom line – the stand of politicians on the illegal numbers game determine their moral, not “molar” standpoint. As to those who would prefer to keep silent, maybe they believe in the saying “silence is golden” or to rephrase it, “when one is silent, one has gold.”

Baguio City, now considered one of the top illegal gambling cities due to the proliferation of jueteng in Northern Luzon is no exception. It is an irony but the jueteng “godfather” who is also reportedly managing the illegal numbers game is a city councilor. This jueteng lord cum city official reportedly wears many hats depending on the situation and where he is.

Some people who have money to burn like businessmen and vegetable farmers and dealers in Baguio and Benguet have told this writer this character frequents casinos in La Union, Clark and Manila. He reportedly bets P100,000 or more on a single wager. The GROs he maintains are reportedly happy, when he goes out to see them after winning. But when his stinginess gets the better of him, they can just pout. You see, this jueteng lord reportedly doesn’t know how to pay his debts although he is raking in so much money nowadays.
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The daughter of this ‘lord” who is working for an electric company is reportedly also now the object of jealousy among her co-workers as she had acquired a spunky and expensive brand new vehicle.

Her peers are now questioning loudly how in the world she was able to acquire the vehicle when she is just a “lowly” employee without any business or having other means to finance her lavish lifestyle. She is reportedly now the object of ridicule for the illegal means her father earns money and how she partakers of it. Nowadays, she is reportedly not keen in getting her salary when most of her co-workers are always complaining why two weeks take a long time before they can get their salaries.
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The youthful Peter Rey Bautista who is now in the hot seat as city mayor could order an investigation on the proliferation of the illegal numbers game in the summer capital. Maybe, he could ask this “honorable” councilor. I guess, in due time, jueteng would be a no-no during his stint as the city’s top executive since he wouldn’t dare stain the good name of the Bautista family but this remains to be seen.

According to our informants, jueteng money freely flowed for selected officials in the city and Benguet last elections. The ones who were given the money were those who reportedly “blessed” its operations. Let us now see who among the officials would declare a stand against the favorite game of the “masa.”

Sometimes, when I see these kubradors soliciting bets from customers in sari-sari stores, restaurants or even at city hall, I get an urge to bet. But on second thought, I don’t since I know the winning numbers are rigged. So I bet the money instead on lotto when my favorite lotto “kubrador” comes around.
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In other places, newly elected Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio and Isabela Gov. Grave Padaca have shown the way for other elective officials (including those in the Cordillera) to be upright when they declared an all out war against corruption, illegal gambling and political dynasties which breeds politics of patronage in their respective provinces.

According to an e-mail dispatch, Panlilio, in a telephone patch message to Padaca aired during a political forum at the Sulu Hotel in Quezon City, expressed his full support and prayers to Padaca, who is still awaiting the result of the recently concluded elections.

The political forum dubbed “Politics of Change,” hosted by Bayan Muna was also attended by leaders of militant groups, including Bayan Muna party list Rep. Satur Ocampo and Kilusang Mayor Uno vice chairman Elmer Labog.
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Both the KMU and Bayan Muna expressed full support to the campaign. “We will pray for you and we will continue our fight against corruption, illegal gambling,” Panlilio said. The priest-turned-politician said he will lead the fight though leadership by example and will promote transparency and people’s participation in his administration.

He said he will activate the local development council and will continue to mobilize the Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting into Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Politics that will take active participation in the local governance. Panlilio also appealed to priests and other religious leaders to come out and support the crusade for good government.
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President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo recently announced a plan of the national government to close the Loakan Airport in Baguio saying the area will be converted into an expansion area of the Philippine Export Zone Authority. Baguio without Loakan Airport is like Manila without NAIA.

The closure of the airport was proposed by some “concerned sectors” kuno in the city to give way for its conversion into more profitable purposes that could help boost the economy of the city. The nincompoops who proposed this should have their heads examined by a lousy doctor with a rusty knife.

These people are actually those we call “kulang sa pansin” who make it a point to be always seen with the President when she flies to town – by landing at Loakan. There are a lot of government-owned lots in the city like the Dairy Farm which could be developed as additional site for the PEZA, not Loakan.
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Of course, tourism-oriented groups in the city opposed the plan of closing the airport saying this could jeopardize the tourism industry. The group said if the proposed closure pushes through, transportation alternatives must be first put in place for the convenience of domestic and foreign tourists coming to the city and the region.

The government has given priority construction of an international airport at Poro Point in San Fernando City, La Union which would service the foreign and domestic flights in Northern Luzon.

Although the new international airport would be a big boost to the efforts to attract foreign tourists to the region, the operation of the Loakan airport is still necessary especially to those who come to the city for a brief rest and recreation.

The international airport nearest to Baguio is in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, while the other international airports in Luzon are located in Clark, Pampanga and Subic, Zambales. Now, tourism officials in the Cordillera are saying the continued operation and upgrading of the Loakan airport should be done instead as the facility plays a crucial role in the efforts to boost tourism in this mountain resort city.
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They are saying Loakan airport could still be maintained for chartered flights and for immediate transport of needed facilities to the region with Baguio as jump-off point. Airports play a crucial role in the tourism industry, not only of Baguio but the entire archipelago because these help facilitate fast travel thereby boosting business.

The President should ignore the pieces of advise of this KSP group whenever she comes to Baguio but she could oblige them for a shot or two at Burnham Park where a lot of photographers with their outdated cameras work hard for the money.