DESPITE his earlier pronouncement that jueteng money will not affect the elections in May as much as in previous voting exercises following the clamp down on the illegal numbers game, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz still warned against its impact on the outcome of the coming national and local plebiscite.

Cruz said the infamous triad of jueteng operators, jueteng payolas and jueteng beneficiaries can still significantly influence the election process results.

Cruz, chairman of Krusada ng Bayan Laban sa Jueteng (People’s Crusade Againstv Jueteng) that has transformed into a bigger anti-gambling advocacy called Krusada ng Bayan Laban sa Sugal (People’s Crusade Against Gambling), said jueteng operators are worshipped by many politicians.

“Jueteng payolas make certain political candidates salivate. Jueteng beneficiaries have a big chance in winning the elections since jueteng money bribe some election officials, pay for campaign expenses, as well as buy votes,” he said.

“Jueteng money takes away votes from honest and upright candidates, and credits votes in favor of corrupt and corrupting pretenders for public office. Jueteng money thus throws good and worthy candidates out of the possibility of holding public offices as a public trust,” he said.

Stressing his group’s commitment against jueteng-connected candidates, Cruz said they will take steps to make sure that they are well marked.

“Whereas jueteng has been long used to favor pro-jueteng candidates, it is about time that the jueteng issue be also used precisely against them,” Cruz said. — EVA

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