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Sunday, May 22, 2005
Arroyo orders 'all-out war' against illegal gambling
MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Saturday ordered police to intensify a campaign against illegal gambling amid accusations that her family has received bribes from operators.
Arroyo ordered authorities to "strictly implement the law" against illegal gambling and to remind the public of the punishment for violators, the presidential office said in a statement announcing the "all-out war" against illegal numbers games.
"It is the president's firm belief that the legal mechanisms needed to stop illegal gambling are in place, and that political will at all levels must be exercised to ensure that the provisions of (the law) are indeed being carried out," the statement said.
Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye earlier dismissed as rumors the alleged links between operators of a popular numbers game known as jueteng and Arroyo's husband, lawyer Jose Miguel Arroyo, and son, Representative Juan Miguel Arroyo, but said the president has ordered an investigation into the allegations and file charges if warranted.
He said Arroyo will not support moves to legalize jueteng.
"It is clear in the president's view that jueteng is an illegal operation and she has no intention of supporting moves to legalize jueteng operations," Bunye told RMN radio Saturday.
Arroyo's husband and son have repeatedly denied receiving bribes.
Charges
The president also wanted charges filed against those who benefited from the illegal numbers game jueteng.
In a speech at the 2005 Visayas Area Business Conference in Eastern Samar, Arroyo called for a united front to lick the culture of gambling, especially among the poor.
"Lets then work together in addressing the problem of illegal gambling while enforcing the law rather than engaging in mud-slinging and character assassination. I strongly urge the filing of charges against anyone involved in payola and no one will be spared even as I urge investigation into the matter not to be centered on hearsay," she said.
Arroyo said her administration's goal is to "come out with policies that would encourage our people to work hard rather than entrust their lives to games of luck."
"That's why we must focus on the economy, investments and jobs," she added.
Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita was just expressing his personal opinion when he said that jueteng should be legalized to prevent any more scandals.
Suspicions
President Arroyo has also been dogged by suspicion that she has received election campaign contributions from a suspected jueteng operator in her northern home province of Pampanga.
Filipinos have become sensitive to reports linking top officials to illegal gambling after allegations that Arroyo's predecessor, Joseph Estrada, received money from illegal gambling operators, contributing to his ouster four years ago. Estrada, who is facing capital plunder charges, has denied any wrongdoing.
Ermita said Friday the allegations could be part of a plot to destabilize the government.
He did not identify possible plotters.
Ermita, however, said he favored legalizing jueteng because it could be an additional source of revenue for the cash-strapped government and create more jobs.
Supporters of the move also say making it legal would remove a protection racket run by corruption police and politicians. (AP/JMR
(May 22, 2005 issue)
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