P’sinan archbishop bucks proposal to legalize jueteng

DAGUPAN CITY — "Ours must be a helpless nation with hopeless leaders."

Thus bewailed Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, national chairman of the Krusada ng Bayan Laban sa Jueteng, amid proposals to legalize the illegal numbers game.

"To even suggest the legalization of jueteng is a desperate thought, a loud cry of helplessness, an admission of bankruptcy of ethical consideration," said Cruz, former president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

Last week, a group of businessmen said they would ask whoever wins in the May 10 presidential elections to pass a law legalizing jueteng.

Such a move, they said, would translate into P15 billion in additional government revenue yearly. But they said there should be adequate safeguards to ensure that the government, not private individuals, would benefit from the legalization.

Cruz, however, reminded the proponents that jueteng is essentially illegal, otherwise "there would not be that much money in this syndicated racket."

"Gambling does not generate wealth but simply sucks this up from some and vomits it on others," he said.

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent Mario Sandiego, Pangasinan police director, said his command continues to work closely with the Catholic Church in battling jueteng pursuant to the directive of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr.

Sandiego said his men promptly act on information on jueteng draws relayed through text messages (2920) or phone calls (117 hotline) and furnish the results of anti-jueteng raids to Cruz.

Sandiego said law enforcers are duty-bound to enforce whatever legislation that Congress passes on the illegal numbers game.