Bong Pineda to House: I know nothing about jueteng

The suspected jueteng king in Central Luzon claimed yesterday that he knows nothing about the illegal numbers game that his name has always been associated with.

In a letter to the House committee on games and amusement, Rodolfo "Bong" Pineda of Lubao, Pampanga said he was declining its invitation to appear before it as a resource person because he has nothing to share about a bill that seeks to legalize jueteng.

He denied he is involved in the illegal numbers game that is prevalent in Central Luzon and most parts of Luzon.

"Nais ko pong ipabatid na noon pa mang una akong ipatawag sa Kongreso mga ilang taon na ang nakararaan, sinabi ko po na hindi ko kailanman tinatanggap ang paratang sa akin na ako ay sangkot sa sugal na iyon. Hindi po nagbabago ang paninindigan kong iyon hanggang ngayon. Iyon din po ang aking itutugon kung ako ay haharap sa inyo," he said in his letter.

"Nais ko man pong makatulong sa inyong pag-aaral ng binanggit ninyong panukalang batas, ipagpaumanhin at ipagpatawad sana po ninyo na wala akong maiaambag na paliwanag o pananaw ukol sa sugal na jueteng," he added.

Pineda gave his address as Olongapo-Gapan Road in Lubao, where he has a large compound measuring more than one hectare surrounded by a high concrete fence. Only the tile roofs of at least three houses and guardhouse near the gate are visible from the road.

He had his letter notarized by a Makati-based lawyer.

Pineda first appeared in a House inquiry more than four years ago when Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez was chairman of the committee on public order and security. He also denied then any connection with jueteng.

Several months later, he would be dragged into the aborted Senate impeachment trial of then President Joseph Estrada.

Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson, who had turned his back on Estrada, claimed he had collected jueteng money for the then incumbent president and named Pineda as one of those from whom he picked up money.

The Senate summoned the suspected jueteng king to testify in the impeachment trial, but Pineda could not be found. His wife, former Lubao Mayor Lilia Pineda, told the impeachment court that her husband was having a medical check-up in the United States.

Bong Pineda returned to the country shortly after his kumare, then Vice President Glorial Macapagal Arroyo, took over from Estrada, his kumpadre.