Bishop to cops: Admit jueteng’s existence

PORAC — Auxiliary Bishop Pablo Virgilio David urged police in Pampanga to admit the existence of jueteng operations in the province.

“Kapag sinabi ng kapulisan na walang jueteng sa Pampanga, mas lalo tayong mawawalan ng respeto sa kanila,” David said.

David said that “it would be easier for the police to admit there are jueteng operations and they did not know how to eliminate the illegal numbers game instead of denying it.”

He added there is jueteng anywhere in the province and Small Town Lottery operations in the province is just a cover up for jueteng.

Earlier, Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz has named Governor Lilia Pineda as one of the top jueteng operators in the country.

Pineda denied Cruz’ accusation saying she will ask the police in the province to check if there are jueteng operations in Pampanga.

But David said he was not surprised when Cruz named Pineda as a jueteng operator. “Sinabi lang niya ang isang bagay na alam ng marami. It is taken for granted.” (Charlene Cayabyab)

Published in the Sun.Star Pampanga newspaper on September 24, 2010.