8 Bishops Get Jueteng Payola Too—Cruz

MANILA, Sept. 14, 2010-Not just government officials but even some Catholic bishops are receiving payola from the illegal numbers game called jueteng.

Retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz admitted he is saddened with what is happening but these church officials are getting jueteng money as donations from the illegal gambling operators.

"There are about 12 dioceses that we are looking into but we are most certain of the eight (dioceses that are getting jueteng money)," he said.

Cruz revealed there were certain changes in the payola system for Church officials because of the new government.

In the past administration, he said, they know very well who these prelates are that also receive, not just jueteng money, but also from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), a state-run agency which is in charge of casinos around the country.

"These people (jueteng lords) would like to earn or have goodwill of Church people and they would like to save their souls so they are willing to pay for it," he said.

"Of course if you are a big fellow you have to pay more. It you are a smalltime operator you have to pay less. That is buying your salvation through jueteng payola."

When he was still archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, he admitted he himself was offered by a jueteng lord of a hefty financial aid for the repair of their seminary which was heavily damaged by a storm.

Cruz said he immediately rejected the offer which was amounting to P3 million.

"My point exactly is that we don't need money from jueteng for our projects... that you don't need these people to be able to build churches, etc," he said.

Asked whether he would bring the issue to the leadership of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, Cruz said it never crossed his mind as yet.

"Frankly, I can't say that because I'm no longer active (member of the CBCP). That is there command and responsibility," he said. (Roy Lagarde/CBCPNews)