Jinggoy Estrada says jueteng should be legalized

MANILA, Philippines - Senate Pro-Tempore Jose Estrada on Tuesday said jueteng should be legalized amid accusations linking President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and son Pampanga Representative Juan Miguel Arroyo to jueteng operations in the province. But Senator Estrada said he is not inclined to revive a bill for the legalization of the numbers game, which he filed in the previous Congress. "…to be consistent, dapat naman talaga ma-legalize na 'yan [For consistency’s sake, jueteng should be legalized)," Estrada said when asked by reporters. He said that when his father former president Joseph Estrada was still in office, efforts were done to legalize the operation of the numbers game. He said legalizing jueteng would give dignity to the people in the operations. "At least magkaroon naman sila ng dignidad papasok [at] magiging regular employees sila. Papasok sila sa SSS (Social Security System) at sa Pagibig para at least maging marangal ang kanilang trabaho [Once legalized, workers in jueteng operations will have dignity; they will become regular employees and can become members of SSS and Pagibig]," Estrada said. Asked if he is willing to initiate the move to legalize jueteng, Senator Estrada said, "I think I already filed one during the last Congress. There is no need to revive it." On Monday, Panlilio accused Mrs. Arroyo and her son of "coddling" alleged jueteng protectors in the Pampanga province. He said Rep. 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 his position as provincial director, rumored to be one of the protectors of jueteng operations there. - GMANews.TV