Jueteng politics in Baguio and Benguet

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

by March Fianza

Backstreet analysts see a changing political landscape today. There is something they know that the police and concerned government entities deny. In the local scene, while narco-politics is hard to prove, folks talk about illegal gambling and jueteng as two possible sources of campaign money for the May 2016 national and local elections.

First, there was narco-politics. It is a serious matter that involves big money and drug lords who have no fear of engaging in the trade as they are backed by well-paid lawyers. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency estimated that those it arrested lately comprised of 45 per cent government-employed, 26 per cent law enforcers and 29 per cent elected officials. 

With that, it drew concern that money-making operations of big-time drug lords could help raise campaign funds for the May 2016 national and local elections. In fact, two former municipal mayors in Masbate were arrested for operating a shabu laboratory last February. Narco politics is evident, not only in some provinces and big cities in the Philippines. The illegal activity is on the go in Mexico and Colombia. 

In the cities of Baguio and Tabuk, and all the provinces of the Cordillera, there has been no move to raid gambling dens and jueteng operating stations in the past so many years since GMA’s term up to PNoy’s time. The same is true in all provinces where jueteng and illegal private casinos operate.

I do not recall any order to stop jueteng by Malacanang or by the late Sec. Jesse Robredo or his successors as department heads who oversee police operations. This, despite unsanctioned shootouts (or is it rubout) by cops, army soldiers and jueteng operators, the latest of which happened in Quezon Province in 2013 where 13 were killed.

In Baguio, a policeman was killed inside a known gambling house along Legarda Road. An investigation proceeded but was stopped for unknown reasons. Other gambling dens are found in La Trinidad market, Dagohoy Street and Bokawkan Road in Baguio, and in Bontoc. If there are any raids, those who are arrested are the “small fish” who do cannot afford to pay private lawyers.

The names of personalities allegedly involved in jueteng politics that come out in news publications are plenty, starting from then President Erap who was charged by his friend, Ilocos Governor ChavitSingson whose clan is known to have jueteng connections; then Sorsogon Governor Raul Lee who was exposed in 1995 by Rep. Bonifacio Gillego jueteng operator; then Bulacan Mayor Jesus Y. Viceo who is known as a jueteng operator in his province; and the Sorianos of San Carlos, Pangasinan who are both in jueteng and local politics.

Even former Tarlac Rep. Jose Cojuangco Jr., PNoy’s uncle was mentioned during a congressional hearing in 1995 as one who has been interfering on behalf of jueteng operators. And before Chavit charged Estrada, there were signs that jueteng money played was spent during campaigns in national elections, where it was once brought out by media that then Vice-President GMA received campaign contributions from the Pinedas.

Bong Pineda who has been investigated by the Senate for allegedly financing jueteng is the husband of Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda whose son is Vice Gov. Dennis Pineda. Bong’s daughter-in-law Yolanda Pineda is mayor of Sta. Rita. Another daughter, MylynCayabyab is mayor of Lubao. I see it as one jueteng-political dynasty.

Jueteng thrives in many towns and villages, along with local politics. As such, it is not strange for jueteng operators and their protectors to be politicians. And so, it is not farfetched that gambling contributions fill up campaign coffers – in Baguio and maybe even in Benguet. That is publicly known.