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Gov links Arroyo son to jueteng ops in Pampanga


Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio, who shows alleged "cash gift" in this file photo, claimed Rep. Jose Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo coddles jueteng protectors in Pampanga. Charlie Magno
MANILA, Philippines - Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio accused Monday presidential son and Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey" Arroyo of “coddling" alleged “jueteng" protectors in the province. In his visit to Camp Crame in Quezon City, the Pampanga priest-turned-politician said Mr. Arroyo, along with San Fernando police chief Superintendent Benjamin Medina and a certain Fr. Jun Mercado, had been “meddling" to keep Senior Superintendent Keith Ernald Singian in position as Pampanga provincial director. Panlilio said rumors about the three personalities’ alleged hand in the “overstay" of Singian circulated through text messages. Singian has been sitting as Pampanga police’s officer-in-charge-police director for the last two years. “I don’t have concrete basis to substantiate my claim but these are text messages. The point is kung hindi man silang tatlo, there is a hand behind all these [There are certainly people behind this]," Panlilio said. “We have suspicion. We don’t have concrete allegation but it has got to do with jueteng," he added. Mr. Arroyo and Singian have both denied the governor’s allegations. Panlilio personally showed up at the PNP headquarters to lobby anew his request to replace Singian with his personal choice, Senior Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag. In April 2008, Panlilio personally delivered a letter to then PNP chief Director General Avelino Razon. The governor asserted in his letter his right as stated in Republic Act 6975 under the Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990. Under the act, governors are given the power to choose from among three nominees that would be recommended to them by the regional director. Panlilio had been constantly reminding the PNP about the replacement since. Panlilio said he had sent over 18 communications – four of which he personally delivered – to the PNP headquarters over the last 30 months that had spanned three PNP leaderships from former police chief Director Generals Oscar Calderon and Avelino Razon to the incumbent head Director General Jesus Verzosa. Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno had once sent but pulled out on the last minute a letter containing the three nominees that had been short listed by the National Police Commission. Puno had apparently decided that the nominees for the Pampanga police directorship should not be given to a native. "Parang discriminatory at arbitrary iyon [That seemed discriminatory and arbitrary]," said Panlilio, adding he was nevertheless forced to oblige and recommend Binag, a non-Pampangueño. Two years later However, more than two and a half years after being appointed as officer in charge-provincial director, Singian has yet to be replaced. Panlilio said that under PNP regulations, a police official could only stay as OIC-PD for a month. After which, he should either be officially appointed as a provincial director or be replaced by some one else. “Kung minsan, [umabot daw ng] isang taon at hindi nabibigyan ng permanent PD. Pero si Singian two and a half years na [The PNP explained there are instances when it takes one year for an OIC to stay in position. But Singian has been there for more than two years]," Panlilio stressed. In his letters, Panlilio had been requesting three things from the PNP and the DILG, namely: * Panlilio requested the PNP to expedite processing his letter choosing Binag as the rightful provincial director; * Secondly, the Mayors League of Pampanga should not be allowed to recommend a provincial police director, as the mayors are only limited to appointing chiefs of police in their respective municipalities; and * Lastly, Panlilio requested that the copy of the letter of recommendation that was supposed to have been sent to him by the DILG secretary be finally delivered to him. Panlilio alleged that Mr. Arroyo apparently preferred “pro-jueteng" officials to police Pampanga and had been making sure that Singian does not get replaced. Singian had strongly denied any involvement in jueteng operations in the province. Panlilio claimed that jueteng game has only been “hiding under the cloak" of another illegal numbers game of small-town lottery (STL). “Definitely nakatago sa STL. Sobra na po. Nakalimutan na nila ang rule of law. Sila pa naman ang PNP na laging nagsasabi ng rule of law [This is hiding under the guise of STL. This is too much. The PNP seems to be forgetting the rule of law]," Panlilio said. Insecure In response, the younger Arroyo likewise denied Panlilio’s accusation and challenged the governor to churn out evidence that would prove the former’s complicity in jueteng operations in the province. “I don’t know where the governor’s information is coming from…I don’t know why he’s doing that to me," the lawmaker said. Mr. Arroyo said Panlilio might just be suffering from “insecurities" over the change of power in the local police, because the governor’s very position itself has been put to question in the past. “In my strong Catholic belief, I don’t fight with a priest… Tanggap ko siya bilang pari pero hindi bilang hari [I accept his being a priest but not acting as a king]," Mr. Arroyo said. But Panlilio insisted, in the radio interview, that his complaint has no connection whatsoever to the election protests raised against him. - Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV
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