Jueteng in Mangaldan
Manuel Biason
17 Feb 2009
Let me convey a piece of thought through your paper about Jueteng which has vexed and disturbed my town since time immemorial.
Jueteng, as everyone knows, is a goldmine for local officials and it is no surprise why candidates go crazy during election times and they go gung-ho in getting elected at all costs.
In the December 2008 issue of one weekly (not the Punch), which looked more of a photo album than a community paper, in one of the twenty one photos printed in it, fourteen of which pertain to him, the mayor of Mangaldan was shown smashing with an axe a confiscated video karera (Ameneng) machine, with four mayor-friendly cops in the background, obviously in an effort to make him look credible. Under the photo layout was the line: “This is the result of the quick action taken by the police in compliance with the directive of the Mayor”. The mayor’s propaganda was ridiculed by many as a big red-herring which was meant only to distract and steer away the residents’ attention from the real problem which is Jueteng.
This Ameneng axing, in all appearances, was a mere media show-off, in its best form, bereft of any substance and honest intentions. What the people need to see is a good-faith effort of the mayor in axing every trace of Jueteng in his area of responsibility instead of showing a photo of him crashing a small-time gambling kit, portraying him as a hero.
This is like swatting a fly in the kitchen while coddling a deadly snake in the bedroom. Does this make sense?
Jueteng will continue to thrive in our town and in every town in the Philippines, and it will never vanish as long as these top municipal officials, as the people know, are linked in a quid-pro-quo with Jueteng barons.
Their common cliché is: “why choke the hen that lays the diamond eggs”.
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