A Palace Divided (part 1)

Exposé after exposé after exposé, the jueteng controversy has set both the executive and legislature ablaze, and all because - according to insiders – warring factions from within President Noynoy Aquino’s “kingdom divided” have allegedly tried to set each other on fire. 

On Monday, in the House of Representatives, at a hearing conducted by the committee on games and amusement, jueteng whistleblower Sandra Cam accused Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) directors of receiving a Mini Cooper each in “protection” bribe from operators of the illegal numbers game. These operators also happen to be franchise owners of the state-run Small Town Lottery (STL), according to Cam. 

Cam, who had also accused members of the Arroyo family of benefitting from jueteng payola in 2005, attended the hearing with fellow anti-jueteng crusaders former Dagupan-Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz and priest-turned-politician Pampanga ex-Governor Ed Panlilio. 

Cruz, whose accusations of connivance among jueteng operators, local government officials, and Palace aides, have ignited a fusillade of exposes and investigations-in-aid-of-legislation on the issue - claimed that jueteng continues to flourish under the three-month old Aquino regime.

The retired archbishop said that given present circumstances, he has started to doubt whether Aquino’s administration could keep its promise to tread the “straight and righteous path” (“tuwid na daan”). 

Timeline 

11 September: Cruz alleged that two of Aquino’s trusted aides receive around P2 million-worth of monthly jueteng payola from operators of the illegal numbers game. 

15 September: Cam confirmed having heard from other whistleblowers that (then incoming and now) PNP Chief RAUL BACALZO was also on the jueteng take. 

17 September: A bluebook allegedly containing the names of media practitioners receiving monthly jueteng payola was sent to media outlets by a certain Francis Bolloc. Among the 26 named was Aquino’s Assistant Press Secretary REY MARFIL (of tabloid, Abante). 

On the same day, some mediamen received this text message: “Blue book should not have been disclosed if you have been considerate of Gen. Bacalzo. Kayo ang nag umpisa! Sige upak pa! (You started this! Go ahead, keep on hitting).” 

(DPG: For some reason, this bit of information was confined to media and political circles. Nobody talked much about Bacalzo since and little was heard of these allegedly corrupt media personalities. An impasse? A deadlock or stalemate, perhaps?) 

21 September: The Senate blue ribbon committee compelled Cruz to divulge the names of these alleged “Aquino aides” and their jueteng benefactors. Cruz, who had earlier opted to name names in “executive session,” was forced to publicly reveal the names, as follows: 

Aquino aides (recipients of jueteng payola): 

• Department of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary RICO PUNO (allegedly receiving P5 to P8 million per month); and 

• (then outgoing) PNP Chief JESUS VERZOSA; 

• On-the-ground recipient EDDIE FONTANILLA; and 

• Intermediate recipient REY CACHUELA; 

Jueteng operators: 

• Governor BABY PINEDA (Pampanga); 

• Congressman PAUL DY (Isabela); 

• Retired General PAUL MARTIN; 

• Mayor MAURICIO DOMOGAN (Baguio); 

• DANNY SORIANO (Cagayan); 

• Retired General RICARDO PADILLA (Pasay, Parañaque, Muntinlupa, San Pedro); 

• Governor AMADO ESPINO (Pangasinan); and 

• BOY JALANDONI (Bacolod) 

Cruz’s list also names ATONG ANG (for jueteng and jai alai) and MANOLING MORATO as “good sources of information.” 

During the same hearing, Cruz told the committee that TONYBOY COJUANGCO, businessman-cousin of the President, had earlier told him to “take it easy on Puno.” 

Dy, named jueteng lord for Cagayan, however later turned the tables on Ang, claiming that the latter has been running illegal gaming in Cagayan and other parts of the Philippines through his online gambling franchise located inside the Cagayan Special Economic and Freeport Zone (CSEFPZ). 

22 September: Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, delivered her privilege speech at the Senate, detailing names and operational details behind the jueteng “industry.” (DPG)

Read [Santiago’s speech]

Read [A PALACE DIVIDED 2]