'Versoza, Puno received jueteng payoffs'

(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines – Retired police chief Jesus Verzosa and Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno were among former and incumbent government officials who received jueteng payola, anti-jueteng advocate and former Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz revealed today.

Cruz made the revelation at today’s Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing chaired by Sen. TJ Guingona, wherein the priest presented a list containing the names of several government officials tagged as recipients of jueteng money.

Those tagged by Cruz as receiving payola are Pampanga Gov. Baby Pineda, Paul Dy of Isabela, retired General Eugene Martin and Mayor Mauricio Domogan of Baguio City, Danny Soriano of Cagayan,  Governor Amado Espino in Pangasinan, and Boy Jalandoni of Bacolod.

Puno, who was present in the hearing, denied the allegation.

The DILG official received a scolding from Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile for not revealing the identities of alleged jueteng operators who are currently under government surveillance.

Enrile urged Puno to "come out clean" on his knowledge of jueteng operations and his involvement in the illegal numbers game.

"We're trying to help you....I'm telling you are being accused (of being involved in jueteng) by the good bishop (Oscar Cruz)...For your sake, you have to come out clean," Enrile told Puno during the hearing this morning by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on the alleged involvement of several government and police officials in jueteng operations.

Enrile made the plea after Puno said he made a paper on jueteng operations to stamp out the illegal numbers game in the country.

During the grilling, Puno said he met with police and local government officials to get their "inputs" to improve the small town lottery, a legal form of betting.

Other committee members also warned Puno that he could be cited for contempt for his evasiveness in answering the queries of the panel.