FG’s spokesman dares Cruz to probe Estrada’s links to jueteng

First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo’s spokesman challenged yesterday anti-jueteng advocate Dagupan-Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz to investigate the revelations of Sen. Panfilo Lacson linking former President Joseph Estrada to the illegal numbers game.

Lawyer Jesus Santos noted Cruz had been very vocal in the past in criticizing the Arroyo administration for alleged links to jueteng, but was now silent on the allegations against Estrada.

Lacson said Estrada had accepted jueteng payola to fund the Erap Muslim Youth Foundation.

Santos said while nothing has been proven against the First Gentleman, his son, Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo and brother, Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo, the archbishop continued his tirades against the administration.

"The silence of the archbishop on former President Estrada’s supposed acceptance of jueteng money is deafening and alarming. If he is truly sincere in his campaign against jueteng, he should be as zealous as before in investigating Senator Lacson’s claims against the former president," Santos said in a statement.

"Otherwise, the archbishop’s advocacy against jueteng will be highly doubtful and bereft of any credibility and impartiality," he said.

Santos said it would be "fair for all" if Cruz would permanently keep quiet on jueteng if he is unable to back up his claims with solid evidence.

Santos said that while the archbishop meant well in his anti-jueteng campaign, he should not forget that the moral question of the illegal numbers game should have no exceptions.

Santos said Cruz never uttered a word against Estrada even though the illegal game was in existence long before the previous administration took office.

Earlier, Malacañang said it had been vindicated by the revelations of Lacson that Estrada tolerated and benefited from illegal jueteng operations.

Lacson said Estrada had asked him to go easy in his campaign against jueteng back when he was still the Philippine National Police chief under the ousted leader.

According to Lacson, Estrada diverted jueteng money to his foundation for the Muslim youth and allowed his men, even from the PNP , to take millions of payoffs from operators of illegal gambling.

Lacson said he refused to tolerate jueteng and, had Estrada done the same, he could have remained as president.