Move for scrapping of small town lottery franchises, Panlilio dared

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines  – The police director of Central Luzon yesterday challenged Gov. Ed Panlilio to move for the scrapping of small town lottery franchises in the province if he wants to finally address the issue of whether STL operations are being used as fronts for jueteng.

Chief Superintendent Leon Nilo de la Cruz told The STAR that his men would not raid STL outlets based merely on Panlilio’s allegation they are jueteng fronts, as legal suits against them could arise.

“We cannot clamp down on STL operations which are legal and with legitimate franchises from the PCSO (Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office). Perhaps he should first have the franchises scrapped, then we will follow,” he said.

Panlilio had sought the relief of Senior Superintendent Keith Singian as provincial police director. Senior Superintendent Gil Lebin eventually replaced him on Tuesday, but the governor protested this.

Panlilio said Singian failed to stop jueteng and that the Pampanga Mayors’ League lobbied for Lebin’s appointment.

Heading the league is Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda, son of Rodolfo “Bong” Pineda who was tagged as an alleged jueteng lord during the Senate impeachment trial of former President Joseph Estrada.

Panlilio said he wanted a “morally upright” provincial police director, accusing presidential son Rep. Mikey Arroyo of lobbying for Lebin.

De la Cruz denied this, saying that since he was appointed regional police director last Nov. 18, Arroyo has never interfered in police appointments.

“Our communication since then has been limited. Two instances was by cell phone when he congratulated me on my appointment to Central Luzon, and when he greeted me Merry Christmas, and then once at a social function. In those instances, he never mentioned anything about police appointments,” he said.

De la Cruz expressed hope that Panlilio would change his mind about Lebin once he gets acquainted with the police official.

De la Cruz said Lebin was merely appointed as an officer-in-charge and that he intends to come up with a list of three nominees to be presented to Panlilio.

He, however, said the police officers being recommended by Panlilio could not be included, as they are stationed outside Central Luzon.

Last Monday, Panlilio said in a statement that gambling lords continue to influence politics, the government and even the church.

He accused the police of “subverting the rule of law” by ignoring his powers to choose the provincial police director.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita earlier turned the tables on Panlilio and challenged him to substantiate his claim that jueteng continues to thrive in Pampanga.

“The question that may be asked is what the good governor is doing against jueteng if it’s true as he alleges that it’s rampant in Pampanga,” Ermita said in a statement.    – With Marvin Sy and Ric Sapnu