What Went Before: Illegal numbers game in PH

Several high-profile officials have been linked to the illegal numbers game jueteng over the years, including former President Joseph Estrada and members of the family of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, now a Pampanga representative.

During Estrada’s impeachment trial in December 2000, Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson testified that the President accepted payoffs from jueteng operators. Estrada was ousted from office a month later.

During a Senate hearing on jueteng in June 2005, confessed jueteng bagmen Richard Garcia and Demosthenes Abraham “Abe” Riva tagged former first gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, his son Ang Galing party-list Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, and Negros Oriental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo (now deceased) among officials involved in jueteng.

In the same month, jueteng bag woman and whistle-blower Sandra Cam also told the Senate that she personally handed jueteng money to Mikey and Iggy Arroyo.

The Arroyos denied the accusations. In August 2005, Riva cleared the Arroyos, saying, “The First Family had nothing to do with jueteng.” Garcia also apologized to the Arroyos in a televised news conference.

In September 2010, retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz, head of the People’s Crusade Against Jueteng, submitted to the Senate a list of jueteng operators and officials on the take that showed Interior Undersecretary Rico E. Puno as one of two “ultimate recipients” of payola. Also tagged with Puno was retired Philippine National Police Director General Jesus Verzosa. Both Puno and Verzosa denied involvement in jueteng.

Other officials on Cruz’s list were Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda, wife of suspected jueteng lord Rodolfo “Bong” Pineda, and Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan. Another list presented by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago showed Ilocos Sur’s Chavit Singson as a jueteng operator in his province and in Ilocos Norte.

Also in September 2010, the PNP submitted to the Senate its own list of gambling operators nationwide. The list contained the names of more than 400 individuals and groups involved in illegal gambling, including jueteng.

Source: Inquirer Archives