Jueteng, a gauge of P-Noy’s sincerity

EDITORIAL

Despite the pronouncements of administration that fighting jueteng is a hard task to do, it could be done, as long as the administration, particularly President Aquino, is intent in stopping the menace.

Jueteng could be a gauge in determining the sincerity of the government in its programs. If the administration cannot stop jueteng, its sincerity (that word again) in implementing government programs with that daang matuwid motto is questionable.

Then Philippine National Police chief, now Sen. Panfilo Lacson had proven jueteng could be stopped. When he was at the helm of the PNP, no jueteng lord dared to go against his order to stop the illegal numbers game.

Now, administration officials are playing the game of moro-moro and make believe issuing pronouncements that it is hard to stop the menace. If the administration will really set out to stop jueteng, it could be done. Lacson had proven it during his time.

Nobody really believes the lame excuses of present government officials that it is hard to stop the menace. Those who have knowledge of how the game works don’t believe the hogwash. Plain and simple, as Bishop Oscar Cruz puts it, if the illegal numbers game is thriving, it is because of grease money which jueteng lords dole out to their “protectors” – government officials, church authorities and yes, even the media.

So if jueteng operations are still going on full-blast in northern Luzon and other parts of the country, blame it on the greed for money of those in government and of course the operators and their protectors.

To localize, in Baguio and Benguet, sources have alleged the jueteng lords as a certain Luding and Atong Ang. Sources bared draws are still being held thrice a day in different venues with bets being collected at waiting sheds, restaurants, sari-sari stores and even police stations and city hall.

Task Force Jupiter which was created by Mayor Mauricio Domogan, critics said, was a lameduck as no arrests have been made by the police the past weeks.

Sources said officials of the Department of Interior and Local Government, the city government and police which compose the task force have been mum on the issue and have not done anything concrete to stop the illegal numbers game. The TFJ some months ago earlier held a conference with students and the Roman Catholic Church on means to stop jueteng in the city.

Some proposals were agreed upon but after a few weeks, the illegal numbers game was still in operation in this city and nearby Benguet towns like La Trinidad, Benguet.

One proposal was for the police to intensify operations and arrest bet collectors and charge them in court so jueteng lords will be hard up putting up bail money, but then, this was not followed, critics said.

They alleged some city, DILG and police officials were being given grease money by jueteng operators running to thousands of pesos on a weekly, bi-monthly or monthly basis, main reason why there was no concerted drive to stop the menace.
Critics also were wondering why church groups were not openly “waging war” against the menace which they said, was destroying the moral and social foundation of the people.

They added, city officials and the police have kept mum on allegations of getting grease money from jueteng operators and what they intend to do in stopping the illegal numbers game. It is the same all over the country. So where goes P-Noy?