Cruz: Jueteng down by 30-40%

DAGUPAN CITY — Like two blades of a pair of scissors, the combined efforts of the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Church-initiated Krusada ng Bayan Laban sa Jueteng (Jueteng-Free Philippines) have effected a significant cut in jueteng operations nationwide, an archbishop said yesterday.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, Krusada chairman, said jueteng operations in the country were reduced by 30 to 40 percent as of July 15.

Cruz said the figures were based on a survey conducted in line with the awards for jueteng-free municipalities and cities, the second so far, to be given to local government and police officials this November.

The survey covered the first quarter of this year.

Cruz, former president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, said the downturn in jueteng patronage was more evident in Luzon and the Visayas, while a good number of provinces in Mindanao recorded a decrease in masiao, another illegal numbers game.

The government has been trying to lessen jueteng patronage since the illegal numbers game gained notoriety in the 1990s.

A number of police officials have been sacked due to the continued proliferation of jueteng in their jurisdictions.

In October 2000, allegations of huge jueteng payoffs sparked impeachment proceedings against former President Joseph Estrada, who was eventually ousted in January 2001.

Despite the reduction of jueteng operations nationwide, Cruz believes that the illegal numbers game would surge anew because of next year’s elections.

"A lot of voters cast their votes on account of the monetary largesse which comes from jueteng payolas," he said.

Meanwhile, Cruz expressed disappointment over the failure of Pangasinan to land an award this year.

"I felt embarrassed because being the national chairman of Krusada, there was no awardee from Pangasinan," he said.

Pangasinan Gov. Victor Agbayani has been informed about the province’s dearth of awardees this year, he said.

He said the latest survey in his diocese showed that although jueteng has gone down in central Pangasinan, there are still "special" places where it has surged anew.