Legal jueteng bill endorsed in House

SAN ISIDRO, Nueva Ecija — Nueva Ecija Rep. Julita Lorenzo-Villareal (LAMP, fourth district) has heeded the call of President Estrada to legalize jueteng, the very same numbers game that led to his impeachment.

Villareal, chairwoman of the House committee on games and amusements, said yesterday she has endorsed the measure legalizing jueteng to the committee on rules so that it can be ca-lendared for deliberation when Congress resumes session in January.

The bill, authored by Batangas Rep. Macario Laurel, was forwarded to House Majority Leader Bellaflor Angara-Castillo.

"As early as two weeks ago, I have already endorsed the bill. It’s now with Majority Leader Angara," said Villareal, adding that her committee will try to introduce the bill on the second week of January

"The mere fact it passed the committee already and the committee approved it is an indication that we may still be able to have it passed but we’ll see," she said, expressing doubt that Congress would have enough time to pass it before it adjourns.

Villareal was apparently responding to Mr. Estrada’s call that a law be passed to legalize the currently-illegal numbers game.

The President called for the legalization of jueteng at least twice in as many weeks, saying this would give employment opportunities to thousands of Filipinos, reduce corruption among police and local officials and tap a potential revenue source for the government.

Mr. Estrada said on Friday that he will endorse jueteng legalization to Congress as soon as he is acquitted of the corruption charges he is now facing before the Senate impeachment tribunal.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) has already come up with a solution to the manner of legalizing jueteng throughout the country, he added.

The President was apparently referring to the Bingo 2-Ball game, which he ordered suspended in October following the exposé of Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson that led to the impeachment proceeding.

"Pagcor has a very nice concept on how the government could generate revenues. Everybody will earn money," he told Malacañang reporters on Friday.

Mr. Estrada had earlier revived his plan to legalize jueteng when he told a large crowd in Floridablanca, Pampanga that the legitimization of the banned game would help the government and thousands of families.

The President, even when he was still a senator, had publicly espoused the legalization of the illegal numbers game so that the government would benefit from its operation. — Manny Galvez