FIRST SALVO IN 3RD DISTRICT

MALASIQUI–After Archbishop Oscar Cruz, the jueteng lords and drug lords may have met another match in a young determined woman!

Congresswoman-elect Rachel Arenas of the third district has called for a “drug-free and gambling-free third district”, the first and only one to do so among her all-male counterparts within the province.

Arenas, daughter of philanthropist Rosemary ‘Baby’ Arenas, sounded the call after taking her oath before Municipal Trial Court Judge Edgardo Caldona on Tuesday, highlighting the celebration of the 109th Philippine Independence Day in Malasiqui, her hometown.

Arenas said she will seek the help of the police and the Church to make this town and other areas in the third district to rid them of illegal drugs and gambling.

She conceded that it would not be an easy task as many others before her have tried and failed.

She called on the local officials, particularly the mayors, to demonstrate the political will to help eradicate the twin evils of society that contribute to continued poverty and the commission of crimes in the communities.

Jueteng is widely known as a major source of funds for local officials for propagating patronage politics, including the “gifts” for weddings, baptisms and deaths.

Meanwhile, the police have yet to establish the source of illegal drug trafficking in the district.

Pangasinan is said to be second only to Pampanga as the country’s jueteng capital.

The Harvard-educated Arenas, only 28 years old, believes that with political will, jueteng operations can be greatly reduced if not eradicated in the Third District. She reiterated her support for Archbishop Cruz’s campaign against illegal gambling, particularly jueteng.

Unperturbed by her detractors’ pessimism, she said she is confident she can win the support and cooperation of all stakeholders as she embarks on establishing meaningful projects that will provide alternative livelihood sources to persons who have been dependent on jueteng for livelihood.—LM

Cruz puts
faith on Espino

MALASIQUI–Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, chairman of Krusada ng Bayan Laban sa Jueteng (People’s Crusade Against Jueteng), has expressed hope that the illegal numbers game will completely be stopped under the leadership of the incoming governor, Amado Espino Jr.

Cruz said Espino gave his “firm commitment” against jueteng during their three talks before and after the elections.

Espino, the outgoing House Representative of the Second District, told Cruz that “he too, will be definitely against jueteng and against drugs”.

“I think we will have a new gubernatorial leadership style,” Cruz told The PUNCH.

He added that with Espino at the helm, “The province will have a strong leadership and if he so decides, it will be a no-holds barred campaign to rid the province of these exploitative ventures.”

Espino-watchers, however, remain unimpressed and believe that his ascension to power will just reflect a “change in the management of the numbers’ game”.—EVA

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