NR0427: The First Gentleman and jueteng

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran
News Release April 27, 2005
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, Chief of Staff
Email: paggawa@edsamail.com.ph, anakpawis2003@yahoo.com
Cellphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news

Every major corruption scandal seems to involve the First Gentleman; investigations regarding jueteng involvement should not be dismissed

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that allegations against First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and Pampanga Rep. presidential son Mikey Arroyo should be thoroughly investigated and not immediately dismissed as mere rumors or black propaganda. Beltran said that the allegations that the members of the First Family were the heads of jueteng syndicates in the country were serious.

"It seems that every time there's a major scandal involving huge sums of money pocketed or accumulated through corruption, shady schemes and under-the-table negotiations, the name of the First Gentleman is inevitably mentioned," he said.

"It's the height of irony that the First Gentleman was able to achieve his current position of power riding on the crest of protests against the illegal numbers games jueteng and the involvement of government top officials, but now he also stands accused of being a gambling lord."

The veteran labor leader said that if the First Gentleman and Rep. Arroyo have nothing to hide, then they will have no reason to fear investigations.

"The First Gentleman and Rep. Arroyo shouldn't be defended and protected by Malacanang and President Gloria without first allowing investigations to take place. None of the scandals involving the First gentleman have been allowed to come completely to light, and it's without a doubt because Malacanang has put its foot down against any close inquiries into his business affairs and involvements. Mike Arroyo may not be an elected public official, but he still nonetheless holds a position of power and influence that he has constantly been accused of abusing and exploiting to amass ill-gotten wealth."

He also said that the Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership led by newly assigned director Alfredo Lumibao should be compelled to reveal what they know regarding the network of jueteng operations in the country."Jueteng has become one of the biggest income-generating rackets in the country, and for all the government's talk about putting a stop to its operations, jueteng continues to proliferate because the gambling network is run and protected by bigshots in the political circles as well as the police institutions," he said.

"The supposed anti-jueteng campaign of the Macapagal-Arroyo government since it succeeded the Estrada administration has fallen flat on its face, and its long overdue to get to the roots of why jueteng continues to proliferate. If Malacanang was sincere in this fight against illegal gambling, it will sanction investigations into the supposed involvement of members of the First Family in these operations. "#