Palace to let Congress act on proposed jueteng legalization

Malacañang is leaving to Congress the decision whether or not jueteng — a popular but illegal numbers game — should be legalized. “If the legislature believes that there should be a shift in policy towards jueteng then it is up to them to propose laws legalizing jueteng," presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in an ambush interview with reporters Thursday. “But insofar as the executive is concerned, our duty is clear it is that jueteng is illegal and therefore our duty is to eradicate jueteng," he added. Lacierda noted that President Benigno Aquino III has already tasked Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo to come up with a comprehensive plan to stamp out jueteng.

Proposals to legalize jueteng were renewed after retired Lingayen-Dagupan archbishop Oscar Cruz alleged during a congressional inquiry early this week that Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno and retired national police chief Jesus Verzosa were receiving millions of pesos in jueteng payola every month. The two denied the allegation. In the House of Representatives, Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga filed last Tuesday a measure proposing the legalization of jueteng. He said the government should tap the numbers game as a source of much-needed revenues for its local government units. Vice President Jejomar Binay earlier said it may be high time for the government to revisit its policy against jueteng. Lacierda, however, said this is currently not an option for Malacanang. “Insofar as the Aquino administration is concerned, that has never been discussed so far," he said. Aquino has maintained a consistent stand against the legalization of jueteng, saying he does not consider gambling a productive activity. - Jam L. Sisante/KBK, GMANews.TV