Arroyo no-show disappoints anti-jueteng group

The no-show by President Arroyo in the awarding of anti-jueteng crusaders Sunday night has disheartened organizers of the Parangal Para sa Mararangal and raised questions about her position on illegal gambling.

"We are not losing hope that she (Mrs. Arroyo) is with us (even if) she is not here," a visibly disappointed Archbishop Oscar Cruz of Lingayen-Dagupan said during the awarding ceremony at Traders Hotel Manila.

Cruz heads the Krusadang Bayan Laban sa Jueteng, an alliance of the Catholic Church, the academe and non-government organizations aiming for a jueteng-free Philippines.

The Parangal Para sa Mararangal gave recognition to some 70 local government officials — nine governors, 50 town mayors, five city mayors, five congressmen and a provincial board member — who have opposed jueteng operations in their respective localities.

In his speech, Cruz thanked Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina, national and local government officials and Krusada members for their presence — except the President.

"Incidentally, there is someone I will not be able to thank. We formally invited her (Mrs. Arroyo) (and) expressly said she was free to choose her own date, time and place," he said.

"But I received an answer, saying in substance she has time for us," said the former president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

He said: "While we do not most probably deserve her august presence and while we know she has much more important things to do, we were expecting at least the presence of anyone representing her. But even this we were denied."

"We thought fighting corruption in government was her priority. Jueteng is the most corrupt and corrupting activity in the country. We thought she would remember that it was precisely jueteng payola that brought down the previous government. But we have neither her nor anyone else from the Office of the President. Why? We wonder. We wonder why," he added.

In a talk with reporters, Cruz urged the President to come out with a statement on her position on illegal gambling, particularly jueteng.

He said such an anti-jueteng statement from the President matters much because it would increase awareness of the people on the ill-effects of the illegal numbers game and would show that the Arroyo administration would not tolerate illegal gambling.

Among the notable Parangal honorees were Reps. Apolinario Lozada Jr. (Negros Occidental), Wilfredo Villarama (Bulacan), Monico Fuentebella (Bacolod City), Manuel Mamba (Cagayan Valley) and Narciso Monfort (Iloilo);

City mayors Edward Hagedorn (Puerto Princesa), Melencio de Sagun (Trece Martirez), Noel Rosal (Legazpi), Jesse Robredo (Naga), and Luzviminda Valdez (Bacolod);

Governors Rodolfo Agbayani (Nueva Viz—caya), Robert Lyndon Barbers (Surigao del Norte), Daisy Avance-Fuentes (South Cotabato), Leandro Madrona (Romblon), Ramoncita Ong (Aurora), Carmencita Reyes (Marinduque), Jose Tapales Villarosa (Occidental Mindoro), Salvacion Zaldivar-Perez (Antique) and Joel Reyes (Palawan).

Other awardees were mayors from Laguna, Albay, Benguet, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Antique and Quezon.

Noticeably absent were honorees from Pampanga, Mrs. Arroyo’s home-province, and Ilocos Sur, the turf of former Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson, whose jueteng exposé triggered the downfall of former President Joseph Estrada.

Cruz said they purposely did not give an award to Singson because he is "a controversial figure."