Retired bishop blames Executive for failing to enforce laws vs ‘jueteng’

Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz blamed the Executive for failing to implement the “good laws” passed by the Legislative.

Cruz issued his statement during the Senate investigation Friday against former Interior undersecretary Rico Puno who is accused, among others, of being involved in the illegal numbers’ game called “jueteng”.

“The problem is with the Executive implementig the laws. There is no problem with the Legislative because these are good laws,” said Cruz in response to Senator Alan Cayetano’s query on why “jueteng” persisted.

Cruz also said that “jueteng kills”. “It is a big corrupt and corrupting business. Everything in ‘jueteng’ is cash, no receipts, no checks.”

“Many have disappeared without a trace because they took some money from the operators. ‘Jeuetng’ doesn’t joke around,” said Cruz, an advocate against illegal gambling.

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, who arrived late, also questioned Cruz on whether STL or Small Town Lottery was effective in eliminationg “jeueteng” to which the retired cleric claimed that STL was being used as a “front” for the illegal numbers’ game.

Cruz also disclosed that he was receiving death threats, black ribbons and checks.

He also disclosed more than 30 illegal numbers’ games aside from “jueteng”.