Prelate agreed to identify jueteng payola recipients — lawmaker

Retired Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz has finally agreed to identify the government officials who are recipients of monthly payoffs from jueteng operators, but only in an executive session in the House of Representatives, according to Davao Rep. Karlo Nograles. “Sabihin mo sa kanila pupunta ako dun na mag-isa — walang abogado, walang witnesses, walang bodyguard — at sasabihin ko lahat ang aking mga nalalaman," Nograles quoted Cruz as saying. (Tell them I will go there alone — no lawyer, no witnesses, no bodyguard — and I will tell them everything I know.) Cruz, an anti-gambling crusader, however, warned that this would be the last time he would share vital information on the popular illegal numbers game if the government will still not act on it. “Kaya lang eto na ang huli na ako'y magsasalita tungkol dito kung wala din namang mangyayari (This will be the last time I will speak about jueteng if the government will still not do anything about it)," Cruz reportedly said.
The retired bishop has earlier said that two ranking officials of the Aquino administration are receiving monthly payola amounting to as much as P2 million. He earlier refused to testify before a congressional investigation, saying the matter is not for the legislative but for the executive department to thresh out. Nograles expressed elation over Cruz’s decision to participate in the investigation. “Since he was the one who claims to have information on the alleged jueteng protectors, I’m happy he has agreed to name names even if only in executive session during the congressional inquiry," he said in a press statement. Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rofriguez and his brother Abante Mindanao party-list Rep. Maximo Rodriguez, and Ako Bicol party-list Reps. Christopher Co, Rodel Batocabe and Alfredo Garbin filed Resolutions 393 and 388, respectively, seeking an investigation on Cruz’s allegations. A check with the House bills and index division showed that since the 13th Congress, no committee report or recommendation has been made despite the bills and resolutions filed and inquiries conducted by lawmakers on jueteng legalization or controversies involving the illegal numbers game. - KBK, GMANews.TV