Palace backs one-strike policy

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang is backing the “one-strike policy” of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Raul Bacalzo against police officers found to be involved in jueteng.

“That is a good policy of PNP chief Bacalzo. That proves his determination to eradicate jueteng and I understand that in the past it was effective,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

Lacierda said the policy would serve as a warning and good example for members of the police force if there was indeed collaboration between jueteng lords and some men in uniform.

Bacalzo warned police officials against allowing illegal gambling operations in their area or face immediate relief and prosecution.

With the stricter “one-strike policy,” the concerned police official having jurisdiction would be immediately relieved from duty.

The new PNP chief said they would deploy “tracker teams” to track down and identify suspected illegal gambling bet collectors.

If the tracker team arrests a bet collector in a certain area, the police station commander would be immediately relieved.

“The provincial commander will be sacked if there are three arrests in his province,” Bacalzo said.

The PNP first implemented the one-strike policy against jueteng in 2005 but it eventually died down. 

Archbishop Cruz vows to attend jueteng probe

Meanwhile, Lingayen-Dagupan Emeritus Archbishop Oscar Cruz said that while he has decided to attend investigations on jueteng, he would not bring with him whistle-blowers to these hearings.

Archbishop Cruz, founder of the Krusadang Bayan Laban sa Jueteng (KBLJ), said that the legislators are requesting for his presence in the probe so he decided to personally make an appearance instead of merely writing a letter.

But he preferred that he would only be invited to the hearings and not be issued a subpoena. 

“So I am going there to say what I know but also, I do not want any whistle-blower with me because it would be difficult for me because they have families. In fact, I told them ‘you do not come with me. Just stay put and pray, let’s see what happens’,” Archbishop Cruz said.

Former jueteng whistle-blowers have reportedly been disappointed with the 2005 investigation because they failed to pass the Whistle-blowers Act.

Some of those who exposed irregularities in government, such as Wilfredo Mayor, were either killed or have been experiencing hardship.

Whistle-blower Sandra Cam earlier admitted having advised a junior police officer who is about to testify against generals receiving payola from jueteng lords to think over his decision “a thousand times” because he would be putting his life at risk.

The Catholic Church has long expressed its objection to illegal gambling in the country but it seemed that their appeal has fallen on deaf ears.

The 76-year-old Pangasinan prelate had previously said that some officials of the PNP and local government have initiated lukewarm campaign against the illegal numbers game because they were receiving commissions.

Cruz reportedly has in his possession a list of government officials who are allegedly benefiting from jueteng. – Aurea Calica, Evelyn Macairan