Ex-Gov. Panlilio slams PNP claim that CL is jueteng free

Former Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio slammed police claim that Central Luzon is jueteng free.

He stressed that increased collection on Small Town Lottery (STL) operations in the region is not a guarantee that the illegal numbers game is dead.

“Isang insulto ang sabihin ng PNP na jueteng free ang Central Luzon,” Panlilio told journalists in an interview on Friday night.

He added, “mukhang ang mga men and uniform na lang natin ang hindi nakakaalam na may jueteng pa lalo sa Pampanga.”

The former governor also showed journalists two pieces of paper showing proof that he himself was able to place bet on jueteng last October 23.

Panlilio’s disclosure and show of evidence strengthen suspicions by many that he is the alleged ‘mystery shopper’ cited by Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas in an earlier meeting at Clark Freeport.

In the same meeting, Roxas asked police officials in Central Luzon led by Chief Superintendent Edgardo Ladao to immediatel;y submit report on  alleged jueteng operations in the region.

Last Wednesday, Ladao called a press conference at Camp Olivas in San Fernando City and announced that Central Luzon is jueteng free.

He was joined by Lawyer Ferdinand Rojas of the Philippine Charity Sweepestakes Office (PCSO), and STL franchisees in Central Luzon.

Ladao even told journalists that STL collections in the region has increase and noted that it is a sign that there is no more jueteng operations in the region.

But he admitted that there are pocket operations of bookies in the region which local police offices in seven provinces are addressing to eradicate.

For his part, Panlilio said that increased collection in STL operations is not a guarantee that jueteng is dead.

Citing earlier information he received, the priest-turned-politician explained that introduction of STL which was meant to replace jueteng, the illegal numbers game remain and was operated parallel to the STL or legal numbers game.

Panlilio said that he is not in favor of replacing STL with Loterya ng Bayan, instead, he suggested that government acquire operation of jueteng and make it legal.

Earlier on Friday, Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda declined to comment on journalists questions with regards to alleged jueteng operation in her province. (Dino Balabo)