No sacred cows in anti-jueteng drive, Palace says

Malacañang on Sunday assured that there would be no sacred cows in the Aquino government’s fight against the popular illegal numbers game called jueteng following a retired bishop’s claim that two presidential appointees are benefiting from it. “Kung may ebidensya kahit gaano kaliit ay titingnan ng Pangulo, sinuman ang matukoy kung may katibayan ay papanagutin sila. Iyan ang malinaw na sinabi at nilahad ng ating Pangulo," said Presidential Communication Operations Office head Herminio Coloma in an interview by Radyo ng Bayan. (No matter how small the evidence is against any officials, President Benigno Aquino III will look into it. Those guilty will be dealt with accordingly. The President is clear about that.) Coloma added that the Aquino government would not tolerate any wrongdoing regardless of who is involved. Retired Lingayen-Dagupan Bishop head Oscar Cruz, who also heads the Krusadang Bayan Laban sa Jueteng, said two appointees of President Aquino are recipients of jueteng payola amounting to at least P2 million every month. Cruz did not identify the officials but said they are occupying security-related positions. Jueteng was instrumental in the downfall of President Joseph Estrada, who was also accused of receiving payolas from it. He was found guilty by the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court on September 12, 2007 but was pardoned by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo a month later. - KBK, GMANews.TV