Gambling lords influencing politics, gov’t, church – Gov

By George Trillo

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Gambling lords continue to influence politics, the government and even the church in the country, according to Gov. Ed Panlilio.

In Pampanga alone, he accused the police of “subverting the rule of law” by ignoring his powers to choose the provincial police director in his fight against illegal gambling like jueteng.

Panlilio earlier sought the relief of Senior Supt. Keith Singian as provincial police director, saying he failed to stop the illegal numbers game.

Senior Supt. Gil Lebin replaced Singian Tuesday, but the governor protested this, saying the Pampanga Mayors’ League lobbied for Lebin’s appointment.

Heading the league is Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda, son of Rodolfo “Bong” Pineda who was tagged as an alleged jueteng lord during the Senate impeachment trial of former President Joseph Estrada.

Panlilio said he wanted a “morally upright” provincial police director, accusing presidential son Rep. Mikey Arroyo of lobbying for Lebin.

Chief Supt. Leon Nilo de la Cruz, regional police director denied this, saying since he was appointed regional police director last Nov. 18, Arroyo never interfered in police appointments.

“Our communication since then has been limited. Two instances were by cell phone when he congratulated me on my appointment to Central Luzon, and when he greeted me Merry Christmas, and then once at a social function. In those instances, he never mentioned anything about police appointments,” he said.

De la Cruz said he hoped Panlilio would change his mind about Lebin once he gets acquainted with the police official.

De la Cruz said Lebin was appointed as officer-in-charge and that he intends to come up with a list of three nominees to be presented to Panlilio.

He, however, said the police officers being recommended by Panlilio could not be included, as they are stationed outside Central Luzon.

This, as de La Cruz urged Panlilio to move for the scrapping of small town lottery franchises in the province if he wants to address the issue of whether STL operations are being used as fronts for jueteng.

De la Cruz told newsmen his men would not raid STL outlets based merely on Panlilio’s allegation they are jueteng fronts, as legal suits against them could arise.

“We cannot clamp down on STL operations which are legal and with legitimate franchises from the PCSO (Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office). Perhaps he should first have the franchises scrapped, then we will follow,” he said.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita earlier tried to turn the tables on Panlilio and challenged him to substantiate his claim that jueteng continues to thrive in Pampanga.

“The question that may be asked is what the good governor is doing against jueteng if it’s true as he alleges that it’s rampant in Pampanga,” Ermita said in a statement.

Panlilio said his initial move was to replace police officers who couldn’t stop jueteng like Singian but his moves were being opposed by officials in government including those holding high positions.