MANILA, SEPTEMBER 30, 2010 (TRIBUNE) By Angie M. Rosales - The wheels have started to turn for the legalization of the illegal numbers racket.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada yesterday initiated the move to legalize jueteng in the country and immediately gained the support of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.
Some senators are keeping an open mind on the proposition to make the illegal numbers game to be soon regulated and placed under the sole control
and supervision of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) while others have openly brooked their opposition to any move to legalize or even regulate jueteng.
But it was also clear that the Senate blue ribbon chairman, neophyte Sen. TG Guingona, isn't that interested in getting to the bottom of the jueteng problem, as he said in an interview he is not going to summon anyone mentioned in the list of jueteng lords, including Ilocos Gov, Chavit Singson, all of whom Sen. Miriam Santiago made public in a privilege speech.
Others invited to the hearings—all administration allies and officials in the Aquino administration-- are not attending the hearing today, Guingona said.
Estrada defended the filing of Senate bill No. 2546, saying that studies have shown, such as the study conducted during the incumbency of his father, former President Joseph Estrada, that government standw to generate at least P5 billion a year, if legalized.
The proposal was made amid the latest controversy on the continued proliferation of jueteng and alleged payoffs to high government officials by its operators.
Daily collection from its operations in Luzon alone, Estrada said, is estimated at P50 million and 30 percent of gross collections are allocated to law enforcement officers, national and local officials.
"From that amount of P5 billion, a lot could be accomplished. It could fund school buildings etc., provide social fund for governors, mayors in their projects," he said.
Estrada admitted that curbing the illegal numbers game operations is not easy and prohibiting such activity is also tough task to carry out.
But efforts to "kill" jueteng through small-time lottery (STL) proved to be ineffective.
This early, Estrada said he has already anticipated opposition from some sectors, especially those coming from the religious sector.
"Let's just be practical. We just want to provide jobs to those who are involved in the business," he told reporters when interviewed on the matter.
Enrile, in a separate interview, openly admitted that he stands supportive of Estrada's proposal to legalize jueteng.
"If possible, if we can pass it, we'll pass it. Let the other side make their position on it. We will take a position we are ready to defend our position. I'm sure the others will oppose it with their own position. We can debate on it.
"Legalizing jueteng will erase all sources of corruption -corruption of the police, corruption of local officials, of the society. And you cannot tax the income of these jueteng operators because they are precisely illegal, underground," he said.
"It will allow us to tax the income of jueteng operators. Once jueteng is legalized, the operators will now be liable for their income tax," said Enrile.
Under section 5 of the said bill, "no individual or private entity shall be engaged directly or indirectly in the operation of jueteng and no franchise or license relating thereto shall likewise be issued by Pagcor." In the same vein, "no police or government official shall allow the operation of any illegal numbers game" in their area of jurisdiction.
Criminal penalties of up to P2 million in fines and reclusion perpetua await any illegal jueteng operator (defined as the maintainer, investor, conductor and banker of jueteng activities). If the offender is a government or public official, he shall be meted a penalty of life imprisonment with disqualification from holding any public office and a fine of at least P1 million.
"Through its legalization, the government can finally collect the revenues sourced from this numbers game, make use of the proceeds to finance important government programs, deny syndicates the opportunity to benefit from it and stamp out corruption," Estrada explained in the bill's introductory note.
Income generated from jueteng operation shall be allocated in this manner: Not more than 20 percent of the daily gross collection shall be used to pay for the services of the authorized collectors, supervisors and other personnel; 30 percent for the winning tickets and the rest shall be placed under the Presidential Social Fund of Pagcor; 10 percent for the provincial government; 40 percent for the city or municipality's (distribution based on population) education programs and day care centers.
"It seems that jueteng has lived long enough since the Spanish period to withstand any more anti-jueteng campign as they all failed miserably. Maybe it is time for the government to look into the other direction and consider making it legal and reap benefits from it," Estrada said.
Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., co-chairman in the ongoing Senate probe on the jueteng expose of retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz, appeared to be leaning toward its legalization but would like to take a look first of the proposal of Estrada.
"I presume it would be similar to what (former) President Erap (Estrada) tried to implement before, the 'bingo two ball' which attempted to legalize jueteng. However, I think at this point, the discussion on jueteng still must refocus itself in the wrongdoing of officials in allowing the numbers game to continue. There is need to determine how this was allowed to happen, who were the people responsible, who were the people who got a great deal of money from this illegal activity," Marcos said.
Meanwhile, personalities dragged into the jueteng controversy in the last Senate hearing are no shows for today's continuation of the inquiry.
Guingona yesterday announced that presidential cousin and businessman Antonio "Tonyboy" Cojuangco, Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno and retired Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Jesus Verzosa are not among those expected to testify before them.
The Subpoena issued to Verzosa was not served by Senate process servers as he remains out of the country while Puno is also abroad, Guingona said.
Asked by reporters if the reported jueteng lords or operators were called for the said proceedings, the senator answered in the negative.
"I do not feel the need because, in the spirit of fairness, I think they should be given an equal opportunity to air their sides but if they so wish to appear personally they are most welcome," he said.
"All those named have an open invitation to come if they so wish to address the committee hearing. They can either come personally to the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing so that they can air their cry or they can write a letter or can send an affidavit. It's up to them. The committee will not require them to come," he said.
He added that there will no longer be any need to invite Bishop Oscar Cruz or Sandra Cam to the Senate hearings.
Cam was the resource person in the lower House who exposed the jueteng lords gift of Mini-Coopers to the directors of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
Guingona said there is no need for Cam to appear since the PCSO officials will be present tomorrow. "We will ask them about this."
On the expose that jueteng lords launder money through the purchases of paintings, Guingona also said that the anti-money laundering agency officials will also be at the Senate today, and he will ask them about it.
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