Jueteng legalization gets mixed reaction

from Senators
MANILA, Philippines – Senators at today’s Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the
jueteng payola issue have opposing views on whether to legalize the numbers game in the
country.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile is agreeable to legitimizing jueteng in order to raise
funds for the government and also to avoid the displacement of people involved in its
operations.

"Better legalize it (jueteng). No one else would profit except the people and government,"
Enrile said.

For his part, Sen. Vicente Sotto III said legalizing jueteng is a "defeatist" attitude to take
since it would only spawn other forms of illegal gambling in the country.

"For me, if we could stop it, we better do. I'm a little apprehensive of the legalization of
jueteng. If we legalize it, new forms of illegal gambling will come out," Sotto said in
reaction to some of his colleagues who seem to be in favor of jueteng legalization.

Aside from Enrile, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada is also in favor of jueteng legalization, citing the
thrust of his father, former President Joseph Estrada, who wanted to make the numbers
game legitimate.

Former Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, a staunch anti-jueteng advocate, said

the illegal numbers game has become a "political monster" which people who seek
elective posts want to evade.

He reiterated that the government could easily stamp out jueteng operations if it wants to.
- By Dennis Carcamo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)