Lacson assailed for ‘irresponsible’ exposé

TUGUEGARAO CITY — Cagayan Valley police director Chief Superintendent Dominador Resos Jr. has lashed back at Sen. Panfilo Lacson over his exposé on jueteng protection and payoffs, calling his accusations "unfounded and grossly irresponsible."

"It is highly ironic that a former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) who prides himself to be an intelligence guru did not follow the simplest rule in information gathering, which is to check and counter-check," Resos said.

In a privilege speech at the Senate last Tuesday, Lacson revealed a list of police officials allegedly on the payroll of jueteng operators in Luzon.

Resos vehemently denied Lacson’s accusations that he was among the top protectors, receiving P300,000 monthly from gambling lords.

"How can I be branded as such when one of my provincial commands has been commended by the Bayombong bishop for stopping jueteng in his diocese," he said.

Resos pointed out that the figures cited by Lacson in his exposé were merely based on unverified data published in a book last May. A portion of the book "Gambling Menace in the Philippines," written by Wilfredo Reotutar, revealed jueteng collections in July 1999.

Meanwhile, Lacson has received the ire of Novo Vizcayanos, particularly local leaders, after his exposé tagged their province as one of the most active in terms of jueteng operations.

"I challenge Senator Lacson to come to Nueva Ecija and see if there are really jueteng draws here," Gov. Rodolfo Agbayani said. Sante Fe town Mayor Teodorico Padilla Jr., the president of the mayors’ league here, expressed disgust over Lacson’s accusations.

"Everybody here knows there have been no operation of jueteng."

Even anti-jueteng advocate Bayombong Bishop Ramon Villena lamented the latest actions of the former PNP chief.

"He could have this province and its more than 300,000 residents form embarrassment had he verified his facts before exposing them," said the outspoken bishop, who has played a vital role in eradicating jueteng in Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino.

Kayapa town Mayor Tony Dupiano said the information revealed by the senator was "outdated."

"If he had said his exposé was based on information, he is correct. But if he says there is jueteng in the province right now, he is dead wrong," he said.

In Pangasinan, police officers said they hope Lacson would be true to his past declarations against trial by publicity and accusing anyone without any evidence at all.

"With due respect to the senator, we categorically deny that our provincial director (Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Mendoza) has been receiving payola money from the numbers game jueteng or any form of illegal gambling," a statement from a group of police officers said.

They pointed out that the provincial police have pursued a vigorous anti-jueteng campaign resulting in the arrest of 482 persons since January.