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Friday, May 20, 2005
Arroyo orders hubby, son probed on jueteng
MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered Thursday an investigation into her husband and son and the filing of charges against them if necessary over their alleged involvement in the operation of the illegal numbers game jueteng.
Her spokesman Ignacio Bunye said Arroyo directed the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and Pampanga Representative Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo after three persons named the two as among jueteng beneficiaries.
"The President has ordered the DOJ and the Ombudsman, whichever has jurisdiction, to look thoroughly into the allegations and to file the necessary charges, if warranted. We shall not interfere with any judicial or legislative process to get to the root of the matter," said Press Secretary Bunye.
Three persons came out saying they would testify in a Senate inquiry against Arroyo's husband and son. The three claimed that Mikey receives at least P500,000 in jueteng payola.
Bunye said they were not surprised that such a report would come out since it has been in the rumor mill for the past weeks. Nevertheless, President Arroyo considers the allegation serious.
"In any case, we shall uphold the rule of law and we have no fear of the truth, no matter who gets hurt. We are confident the truth and justice will prevail," he said.
He added that the President would not allow herself to be affected by the issue as she "will just concentrate on doing her job and she will not allow this controversy to get in the way of performing her functions."
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. said he ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to locate all suspected jueteng lords and operators to shed light on the matter.
Gonzalez said they would invite for questioning alleged jueteng operators like Toto Ronnie of Bataan, Art Katigbak and Alex Tang of Camarines Norte, Zaldy alias Tiger and Tony Santos of Camarines Sur, Alvin Liao and Leony Lim of Sorsogon and the alleged bagmen, identified as B1, B2 and O1.
He said they would question Governors Armando Sanchez of Batangas, Jose Yap of Tarlac, Jesus Typoco Jr. of Camarines Norte, Luis Raymund Villafuerte of Camarines Sur, Vice Governor Mariano Cristino Joson of Nueva Ecija on the alleged jueteng operations in their respective areas.
Mike Arroyo's counsel, Jesus Santos, challenged those who alleged that his client is receiving jueteng money to come out, present their evidence and file the appropriate charges in the proper forum.
Santos also dismissed the allegations as a "completely false and totally malicious" statement that was "peddled by tainted sources who themselves admit to being a part of the lower denizens of illegal gambling."
He said his client and the presidential son have never received any jueteng money nor have they tolerated or condoned such activity.
In a Senate inquiry on jueteng, Senator Panfilo Lacson asked the witnesses to present concrete evidence rather than mere public statements.
Lacson said he is in contact with some potential witnesses who may testify in the Senate investigation.
The senator earlier announced that he has at least three witnesses he named only Mr. B, Mr. N and Mr. R who could disclose how jueteng operates in the country.
But Lacson this time is careful because he does not want to repeat the possible recantation of witnesses like Udong Mahusay in the Jose Pidal issue and Ador Mawanay in the illegal drugs issue.
"I have in my custody their sworn statements, which have been notarized," he said.
Lacson refused to divulge further details to the media about his witnesses' claims, saying they will make their statements in public through the Senate probe.
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, meanwhile, belittled the statement of the witnesses identified as B1, B2 and O1 that they were collecting money for the Arroyos.
Santiago said the witnesses should provide the Senate some concrete evidence or proofs that they saw or even talk to the political personalities that they linked to jueteng in order to show credibility. (JMR/BBP/JPM)
(May 20, 2005 issue)
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