‘Jueteng’ still a factor in Pampanga

MEXICO, Pampanga—“Jueteng” continues to be a factor in local politics in this vote-rich province and the administration’s local candidates are relying on the senatorial hopefuls in Team Pnoy to boost their chances in the May elections.

Former Gov. Ed Panlilio, who is seeking the gubernatorial post, made the remark while discussing the chances of Liberal Party-led coalition in the province, still reputed to be former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s bailiwick although President Benigno Aquino III won here in 2010.

“What I see is jueteng politics being a factor at play in Pampanga,” Panlilio told reporters during a break in Team Pnoy’s campaign sortie through Candaba, Mexico, San Fernando and Guagua.

“It’s surprising that in 21 cities and municipalities, two Kambilan [local party candidates] are running unopposed for a mayoralty race. It is a belief amongst many people here that unless you are supported by the jueteng lords that it’s a very difficult to win and we would like to work hard to reverse that impression,” he added.

Panlilio won the gubernatorial race in 2007 on a platform of good governance and his stance against the illegal numbers game which is allegedly backed and protected by some local officials.

“According to our data, jueteng has a P30 million income per day. So it greatly affects politics here in Pampanga,” vice gubernatorial bet Maie Tiglao-Cayanan said.

“We only have mayoralty candidates in 10 out of 21 municipalities. The other side sometimes has two candidates for mayoralty post,” she added.

Asked what the chances of Team Pnoy are in Pampanga which is allegedly dominated by jueteng politics, Panlilio said, “The national candidates are strong.”

“The survey in the national level also holds true here in Pampanga,” Panlilio said, referring to the latest SWS survey that had nine out of 12 administration candidates making it to the Top 12 of the senatorial race.

Panlilio said they would bank on the popularity of the administration candidates in Pampanga to carry them to victory in May.

“We like the challenge in Pampanga. We’re working hard for the victory of Governor Among Ed because this will send a strong signal, to the entire country that in Pampanga which is dominated by traditional politics and as Among Ed said, jueteng politics where we espouse the straight and narrow path we can prevail. He will become symbol of tuwid na daan in politics,” said Team Pnoy campaign manager Franklin Drilon.

“This will be a showcase whether we matured in our choice of our leaders. I think it cannot be denied that the opposition here is supported by the illegal numbers game, that is the general impression,” Drilon added.

Reelectionists Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, former senators Ramon Magsaysay, Jr., and Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal, former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros and Grace Poe Llamamzares joined the campaign sortie in Pampanga.

Sen. Loren Legarda sent her father Tony to stand in for her while Benigno Aquino IV sent his wife Timi. Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara sent his mother Gloria Angara, who has roots in Pampanga.

“Pampanga is among the top 20, I think 1.2 million votes. It is important. Vote rich, very near Manila therefore would be influenced by mass media to a great extent,” Drilon said.