MANILA, Philippines—Interior and Local Government secretary Ronaldo Puno on Monday hit back at Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio, telling the Catholic priest on leave to stop being a “source of the rumors and loose talk.”

“I don’t know if he has evidence on anything he is saying,” said Puno.

Panlilio on Tuesday last week alleged that the resurgence of illegal numbers game “jueteng” in Pampanga province had the blessings of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who hails from there.

He also demanded the removal of Senior Superintendent Keith Singian as Pampanga police director, for, among other things, his alleged failure to stop the illegal “jueteng.” Singian was swiftly replaced by Senior Superintendent Gil Lebin, but Panlilio expressed dislike for Lebin.

Puno said that instead of “rumor-mongering,” Panlilio should help the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police in their campaign against “jueteng.”

Puno said he was “very unhappy with this entire situation because…when you have a governor saying he is helpless to stop anything in his own province, there is something wrong with that governor.”

“Because I don’t know of any governor who is helpless in his own province,” Puno said.

He also chided Panlilio, telling him “not to be the source of the rumors and loose talk.”

At the same time, Puno urged Panlilio to give Lebin a chance. “We are parts of organizations. You have to learn to function as a member of a team. A provincial governor needs to work with the entire provincial government, not just the people you like,” Puno said.

“And I’m sorry that he doesn’t like the director now. But unless that fellow shows any failing in his job, he will remain there whether the governor likes it or not,” he said.

Puno said that upon receiving Panlilio’s complaint, he immediately sent a team from the DILG to check if “jueteng” exists in Pampanga.

“We have checked…we have sent people there…the report to us was that these are essentially STL operations,” Puno said, even as he said Panlilio should distinguish between small town lottery (STL) of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes and “jueteng.”

He said that several local government officials often mistake STL with “jueteng.” Puno, though, said that the DILG is also acting on reports of illegal or “guerilla” STL operations.

But if Panlilio really has evidence showing that “jueteng” exists in Pampanga, he should present it to the DILG for “specific action,” Puno said.

“They are supposed to be the most mature, the most coming influence of the province,” he said. “If on the basis of gossips and loose talk they will promote rumors and irresponsible talk, it’s not going to be very productive.”

“I want to help Governor Panlilio and we will help if they provide us with specific facts. Come up with something specific and we’ll come up with specific actions,” he said.