'No room for jueteng in Noy administration'

NAGA CITY , Philippines  – Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo, who is expected to be appointed interior and local government secretary, said yesterday that the incoming administration would not allow the proliferation of the illegal numbers game jueteng in the country.

Robredo, who had been mayor of Naga City for six three-year terms, said city hall has neutralized local gambling syndicates.

When asked what he would do with jueteng if president-elect Benigno Aquino III appoints him as secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Robredo said: “No way to jueteng in the Aquino administration.”

Robredo confirmed that he was offered by Aquino to be the DILG secretary apparently based on his vast experience as Naga mayor.

He said that it is public knowledge that jueteng was banned in Naga City and illegal gambling operators have been forced to conduct guerrilla-type operations to evade authorities.

“We abhor jueteng not only that it is illegal, but more so because it develops a culture of mendicancy and corruption among our constituents as well as government officials,” Robredo said, adding that Aquino is an anti-gambling advocate.

Jueteng operations, however, continue in most parts of Camarines Sur, Sorsogon and Camarines Norte, while a similar game called “lo-teng” is popular in Catanduanes, and an illegal small town lottery group operates in Albay.

Operators of jueteng reportedly earn P2 million to P5 million a day, or P75 million to P150 million a month, in the Bicol region.