Pooled Editorial

Perpetuating jueteng

IN late August last year, no less than Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr., then still House Speaker, for the first time ever in his long political career asked the provincial force of the Philippine National Police to put a stop to jueteng, that illegal numbers game that has plagued Philippine society even longer than the congressman’s term in public service.

At the inauguration of the new police station in San Jacinto, among the audience of De Venecia were top police officials: Chief Supt. Francisco Llamas representing then PNP Chief Director General Oscar Calderon; Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil, then Police Regional Director; and Senior Supt. Isagani Nerez, then and still is serving as police provincial director.

De Venecia’s dream was to make Pangasinan a “model province” as jueteng-free and illegal drug-free community.

The call was later echoed by Rep. Rachel Arenas.

Alas, the congressman’s call, which was made amidst reports of the resurgence of the illegal operations, had obviously fallen on deaf ears.

These days, seven months later, Pangasinan is actually at the forefront of jueteng, reportedly having one of the biggest operations in the country.

And common knowledge in the street is that payola money-loads and loads of it generated from this perpetual gambling – is distributed to most everyone in power and influence, namely the police, supposedly our protectors from all kinds of crime; local government officials, supposedly our public servants; and media practitioners, supposedly the watchdogs in our society.

Now, De Venecia no longer sits at the helm of congress but is bent on pursuing his campaign for moral recovery in governance.

What now on the jueteng issue?

From all indications, no one appears bent on putting a stop to it, especially those who are benefiting the most from this illegal game, big or small. It doesn’t bother them one bit that it breeds a culture of “easy money-easy go” among the people, that it is a source of funds for vote-buying by corrupt politicians. It breeds corruption in all levels and sectors of public authority but this does not bother them one bit that it creates a society wrapped in vice and iniquity.

Now that P/Chief Supt.  Bataoil has been replaced by Chief Supt. Romeo Hilomen as boss at the PNP regional office, will this spell some change?

Many doubt this.