Miriam dared to name nat'l officials in jueteng controversy

Senator Edgardo Angara on Thursday urged Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago to name nationally elected officials who are possibly coddling jueteng lords. "Why won't Sen. Miriam identify the nationally elected officials who are coddling or are in a way involved with gambling lords?" Angara told reporters in Filipino on Thursday. In a privilege speech on Wednesday, Santiago alleged that officials from the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police have been receiving P300 million annually in jueteng payoffs. She likewise identified local officials and other suspected gambling lords to be the main jueteng operators in five regions in the Philippines. Angara, however, believed that some national officials are also involved in jueteng. "Palagay ko meron (pero) si Miriam ang may alam (I think there are national officials involved but only Miriam knows)," he said. Asked if he thinks some senators might be included, he said: “Mahirap sabihin (Hard to say)." Angara said he thinks Santiago's speech was just "part one" of her exposé. Santiago could not be immediately reached for comment as she is on indefinite leave due to health reasons. She, however, confirmed during her privilege speech that her "informants" are still compiling more information about the jueteng controversy. A bigger problem? Meanwhile, Angara said he also wants to conduct an investigation on the proliferation of drugs in the country, specifically the possible "linkup" between illegal drugs and law enforcers. "This (jueteng) is a sideshow, the main show is the drugs menace in the Philippines," he said. He said the drug problem in the country is rampant but is "unknown and unnoticed" by the public. "Ito ay kailangang i-address natin sapagkat ito ay (This should be addressed because it is) more menacing, more destructive than jueteng," he said. Senate Majority Floor Leader Vicente "Tito" Sotto III had also earlier said that the Philippines is even being targeted by an international drug syndicate to become a market for a cheaper kind of cocaine. - KBK, GMANews.TV