Kin say Siman into STL but not illegal gambling

CALAMBA CITY, Philippines – Relatives of Victor Siman maintained yesterday that they have no knowledge of his alleged involvement in illegal gambling, as they expressed hope that the slain man will get justice.

Siman and his cousin Gerry Siman were among the 13 men killed at a checkpoint in Quezon last Sunday.

Gerry will be buried this afternoon at the Holy Trinity Cemetery in this city while Victor will be interred when a brother returns from abroad.

Victor’s father Rudy, 71, denied that the man identified by military and police sources as a top jueteng lord in Southern Luzon was involved in illegal gambling, hired guns or kidnapping.

Rudy said his son used to engage in small town lottery (STL), which is legal, but had left the business to concentrate on a security agency.

Police sources in Laguna said Siman’s fortunes improved after he had a falling out with his original employer, Charing Magbuhos, long tagged as one of the top jueteng barons in the province.

Siman opened a nightclub called Pink Star in Barangay Bucal, Calamba, where he entertained gambling financiers and special guests including senior police and military officers, the sources said. The nightclub was later converted into a hot springs resort.

He also developed a taste for luxury vehicles.

In 2010, Siman reportedly began styling himself as a political kingmaker, using his gambling network to falsely claim that he was close to a cousin of then presidential candidate Benigno Aquino III.

Several gambling financiers initially believed his claims, and Siman collected millions in bonds from gambling operators. A bond is used for shortfalls incurred by gambling financiers in paying winning bets.