Cruz Chides Jueteng Legalization Bill

MANILA, Sept. 30, 2010-Retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz maintained that legalizing jueteng will not stop the multi-million illegal numbers game in the country.

Cruz, head of the Krusadang Bayan Laban sa Jueteng, pointed out that legitimizing underground lottery would only spawn other forms of gambling in the country.

"It is in the nature of jueteng to be illegal because that's where the money is. Another game will come out with maybe a different name but similar operators and structure than that of jueteng," said Cruz.

One example, he said, is the government-run small town lottery (STL), the legal counterpart of jueteng which was only used as a front for illegal numbers game.

Cruz said STL has the same structure as jueteng, using bet collectors, area managers and bet reviewers in its operations. In fact, he added, many jueteng operators are themselves STL operators.

The Church is against any kind of gambling, saying it destroys society's moral fiber and exploits the poor who are led to depend on luck.

In jueteng, Cruz said it does not only exploit lowly bettors but also promote corruption among government officials.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada earlier filed a bill legalizing jueteng in view of generating more revenues for the national government.

Estrada's Senate Bill 2548 or the proposed "Jueteng Act of 2010," assigns the supervision of the numbers game to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor).

The measure likewise proposes that no law enforcers or public officials should allow the operation of jueteng in their jurisdiction.

But the archbishop said that if the bill would be approved, it only goes to show that the authorities are "inutile" in stopping "even such a simple illegal numbers game like jueteng."

'It takes only a political will on the part of the local officials and sheriffs on the part of the Philippine National Police to get rid of jueteng," Cruz said. (CBCPNews)