|
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
2 more witnesses link Mike Arroyo, son to jueteng
MANILA -- Two self-confessed jueteng bagmen on Monday implicated President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's husband and son to the illegal numbers game, claiming the two received payola and protected the illegal activity.
One of the bagmen said during Monday's Senate investigation on jueteng that Negros Occidental Representative Ignacio Arroyo, President Arroyo's brother-in-law, also received jueteng money.
Witnesses Richard Garcia, a former member of the defunct Philippine Constabulary, and Demosthenes Abraham Riva said they did not deal directly with Mike Arroyo and his son but learned about their involvement through the persons collecting the money in behalf of the Arroyos.
In the case of President Arroyo's son, Garcia said he served as the jueteng bagman of a certain Colonel Pierre Bucsit and it was this person who mentioned Congressman Arroyo's name.
Garcia and Riva testified during the resumption Monday of the investigation on jueteng by the Senate committees on games and amusement and on public order and illegal drugs.
Staunch anti-jueteng advocate Lingayen-Dagupan Oscar Cruz presented Garcia and Riva before the two Senate committees.
Riva said during the Senate hearing that money from jueteng was coursed to Mike Arroyo from Presidential Assistant for Bicol Affairs Mario Espinosa, who would get P30,000 to 50,000 monthly as jueteng payola.
Riva said he does not know how much of the money went to Mike Arroyo. He confessed to being the jeuteng bagman of Espinosa.
Garcia, on the other hand, said in his testimony at the Senate investigation that the first time Colonel Bucsit mentioned Congressman Arroyo, he referred to President Arroyo' son as "Mr. Lion King".
"Tinanong ko kung sino si Lion King, sabi nya si Governor Mikey Arroyo (I asked who 'Lion King' was, he said it was (then Pampanga Vice) Governor Mikey Arroyo)," Garcia said.
He could not elaborate on Congressman Arroyo's involvement, admitting he is not sure if the President's son was really involved and how much he received in jueteng payola.
Wilfredo Mayor, a self-confessed jueteng operator, said at the start of the Senate inquiry last week that Congressman Arroyo receives a monthly payola of P600,000 through his bagman Arthur Naguit alias Catoy when he was still vice governor of Pampanga. Mayor did not present any evidence to back his claim.
The other witness, Riva, admitted working Espinosa's bagman, saying he was even the one who set up a meeting in Legazpi City between Espinosa and jueteng collectors sometime in 2004.
He said Espinosa received P20,000 a month in jueteng payola in Legazpi alone. He said the Malacañang official also collected money from jueteng operators in Camarines Sur and Sorsogon.
Riva said Espinosa cannot deny what he is saying, adding they are neighbors in Rawis, Legazpi City.
On Mike Arroyo's involvement, Garcia quoted Camarines Sur Provincial Police Director Bienvenido Latag as saying he was told by the President's husband to lift the ban on jueteng.
Garcia identified Sandra Cam as the bagman of President Arroyo's brother-in-law.
Garcia also accused Camarines Sur Governor Luis Villafuerte and his sons Congressman Luis Villafuerte and Bong Villafuerte of allegedly getting payola from jueteng and protecting the illegal gambling activity in Camarines Sur.
The unknown payoff for Governor Villafuerte is allegedly collected by Art Katigbak and a certain Colonel Ronggavilla, according to Garcia.
In Sorsogon, Garcia said the list of alleged jueteng beneficiaries included Governor Raul Lee and Congressman Jose Solis.
Garcia cleared opposition Representative Francis Escudero of Sorsogon from the jueteng payola issue.
"Ang hindi lang po tumatanggap ng payola ay si Congressman Escudero. Kahit po anong gawin nila ay hindi nila makuha sa bribe money si Congressman (Only Congressman Escudero does not get any payola, no matter how much they try to bribe him)," Garcia said.
Garcia identified some police officers allegedly used by the local officials in jueteng operations. They are Colonel Bucsit, General Rodolfo Tor, Colonel Jaime Lazar, Colonel Restituto Mosqueda, Colonel Latag and others.
He also alleged that Batangas Governor Armand Sanchez is a "jueteng lord" and has been so since he was mayor of Santo Tomas town in Batangas.
In the same inquiry, Arthur Naguit alias Catoy, alleged bagman of Mikey and Rene Maglanque, denied receiving jueteng payola for Mikey and knowing Mayor.
Garcia said in Luzon alone, the jueteng industry earns about P10 million daily. Ten percent of this amount is segregated as payolas and protection money.
Region 5 gets P400,000 a week while Region 3 gets P350,000.
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago belittled the testimony of the witnesses. "One hearsay plus one hearsay plus one hearsay ad infinitum equals zero testimony," said Santiago.
For Senator Santiago, all the testimonies could be considered hearsay because there is no direct link between jueteng operations and members of the First Family.
"All of the testimonies have been hearsay. And unfortunately, the rules of court state that witnesses are not to be numbered but are to be weighed," Santiago said.
Two opposition senators also said there is no direct evidence linking the Arroyos to jueteng but said there is already a build-up towards that.
Senators Aquilino Pimentel III and Panfilo Lacson both said not one of the witnesses have testified to giving money directly to the Arroyos.
Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, on the other hand, suggested inviting all the officials mentioned in the next hearing on Thursday. (JFF/JPM/Sunnex Luzon)
(June 7, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
