By Harvey S. Keh
Contributor
LAST week, Pampanga Governor Eddie “Among Ed” Panlilio again made the headlines and even the front page of the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) when he broke the news that the reason why he wants his Police Provincial Director relieved from his position is due to the latter’s refusal to cooperate with him in his fight against illegal gambling particularly jueteng in his province.
What even made the news even more alarming was the fact that there are allegations that it was First Son and Pampanga Congressman Mikey Arroyo who was exerting pressure on the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure that the demands of Gov. Panlilio will not be given. If we will recall, in the last 2007 elections, one of Gov. Panlilio’s main opponents was Lilia Pineda who was then a Provincial Board Member and wife of alleged jueteng lord, Bong Pineda.
We all know that despite meager resources and limited amount of time to prepare, Gov. Panlilio through the support of the civil society and church groups was able to win and one of main thrust of his administration was to put an end to jueteng in Pampanga thus, ridding his province of the label, “the Vatican of Jueteng in the Philippines”. Barely a year in office, Gov. Panlilio filed a plunder case against Bong Pineda for his alleged involvement in jueteng operations all over the country.
I was in Pampanga over the weekend and I was listening to a local radio station wherein two radio commentators were saying that instead of focusing on the eradication of jueteng, Gov. Panlilio should just let the issue go and focus his efforts elsewhere.
I was disturbed by those comments since if we recall, wasn’t jueteng one of the major reasons why many of us went to the streets leading to the ouster of President Joseph Estrada? How many families have been destroyed by this prevailing addiction to illegal gambling?
It is a grim reality that many politicians in our country from the local government units up to our national government continue to allow jueteng operations to run since they also benefit from it. The money that is earned by taking advantage of the hopelessness of the poor is then used to buy votes during elections or even influence the results thereby perpetuating themselves in power.
For a country that is run by a few selfish interests while millions continue to live with less than 100 pesos a day, the upcoming 2010 National Elections again present an opportunity for us to elect the right leaders for our country.
Yet, this may only remain an elusive dream if we continue to allow jueteng lords to influence the results of the elections thus, making our political leaders beholden to them. Gov. Panlilio is right in fighting jueteng because by doing so, he is not only fighting one of the causes of poverty in our country but he is also fighting to preserve the integrity of one of the most important rights that we have in a democracy, our right to freely choose effective and ethical leaders for our country.
However, we all have to realize that this fight against jueteng will not be won overnight given that this is also a source of livelihood for many Filipinos. The challenge for Gov. Panlilio is to ensure that he is able to stimulate enough economic activity and employment in his province so that Kapampangans will have opportunities to earn a decent living and they will no longer have to pin their hopes for a better life on this gamble of numbers.
The experience of other countries like Mexico and Colombia wherein money from illegal drugs has been used to elect the highest officials in their respective countries is something that we can all learn from. Drug lords continue to reign in these countries and it won’t be long that jueteng lords will also be our country’s rulers if we don’t do anything about it now. Do we want our country to be known not only as the Sick Man of Asia but also as the Jueteng Republic of Asia? I certainly hope not.
Harvey S. Keh is Director for Youth Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship at the Ateneo de Manila University-School of Government. Comments are welcome at harveykeh@gmail.com
19 Feedbacks on "Philippines: A Jueteng Republic soon?"
Reginald B. Tamayo
Moral choice
In the fairytale story of Snow White, her step mother asked “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?” We ask about some of our politicians (private citizens included!): “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the greediest of them all?”
It is so discouraging to watch our country run by some politicians who are greedy and dishonest. Those politicians who are greedy and dishonest are also those who we described as “haves and have mores.” Indeed greed and dishonesty are sometimes rarely seen by those politicians who benefit from them. Nowadays, it is rare breed specie of a politician to run this country who is disinterested, unselfish, and honest. One writer says, “Looking for an honest politician is like looking for an ethical burglar.”
Examples of graft and corruption in the government abound and the latest of which is the alleged participation of politicians, private citizens, and construction firms in collusive practices for a major road construction. I am sure other scandalous and immoral graft and corrupt practices will unfurl in due time if these are left unchecked. It seems that the country is no longer ruled by decent and respectable lraders. This country seemingly is now ruled by thieves.
It is the corruption of greed and the politics of dishonesty of some of our public officials that have created dislocation and suffering in our society. It is greed and dishonesty that caused the shortage of classrooms in our schools. It is also the same greed and dishonesty that we have unpaved roads and decrepit bridges. They are also responsible in widening the gap between the rich and the poor in our society; render the poor homeless, the sick untreated and create unemployment. In the book of Jeremiah, he addresses these wicked people, in this language: “But you! You are full of selfish greed and dishonesty! You murder the innocent, oppress, the poor, and reign ruthlessly.”
There is no use beaming with pride saying that our country is booming in its economy while our society is greed-ridden. Even when our peso gets stronger, this does not outweigh our culture of greed and dishonesty. We have to make a moral choice: either to speak out and stand up for the gospel values of honesty or silently condone these social evils. Simply put, we can elect to stand up for morality or just keep our heads down. Carl Jung reminded us that “we live not only for our own lives but, whether we know it or not, also the life of our time.”
wonderwoman
Our country faces three major problems that affects the lives of all Filipinos.
1. Drug problems- The drug problem can be solve easily if our government of PGMA HAS THE WILL POWER TO LODGE A DIPLOMATIC PROTEST AGAINST MAINLAND CHINA AND TAIWAN TO STOP ONCE AND FOR ALL THE EXPORTATION OF THESE PROHIBITIVE DRUGS TO OUR COUNTRIES. These two couintries is undermining our national security and sovereignty and a violation of a proprietness against a neighboring country.
2. Jueteng as well as legal gambling such as lotto, and off track racing should be abolish once and for all. These gambling has wasted so much time and potential man power, and also, gambling errodes our moral values.
3, We, the ethnic Filipinos should get back from our ethnic Chinese dominated government the right to rule our country.
With such move, true Democracy will again flourish in our country, unlike the present setup wherein our very legislative and executive branch of our government intends to surrender our national as well as territorial sovereignty to China.
With this, we can say that the people who runs our government are truely representative of the people.
Philippines: A Jueteng Republic soon? | Kaya Natin
[...] February 25,2009 http://blogs.inquirer.net/philippineelections/2009/02/24/philippines-a-jueteng-republic-soon/ LAST week, Pampanga Governor Eddie “Among Ed” Panlilio again made the headlines and even the [...]
romeo s. lacson
Jueteng? yes not once not twice but more in a day in the province of pampanga. i went home for my annual vacation in san fernando city and to my hometown in mexico both in pampanga during the holiday season. they said wala na raw jueteng, yan ay di totoo. sa mexico lang mga 3 hanggang 5 kobrador ang dadaan sa bahay nang mga nanay ko para magpataya. yun sa unang bola pa lang..paano yung pangalawa o yung kasunod pa. mamulat ako sa mexico na may jueteng hangga ngayon 56 na ako may jueteng parin.. mamamatay na ata ako may jueteng pa rin.. walangkakayahan ang mga namumuno na itigil ang bisyong ito, kasi nga po nakikinabang sila pati na ang mga alagad nang batas na nagbabantay..
anak nang jueteng oh…
sonnyboy
mr.keh, we the kapampangan’s of southern california strongly condem what ed panlilio is doing in pampanga, he is not a good leader, if he has the evidence why dont go to court and present his evidence and not to media who is one sided and against the government, he is always making issue about jueteng, do you think he can stop jueteng? Even during the martial law days, marcos was’nt able to stop jueteng, he keeps on blaming the president when in fact a lot of development were made in pampanga,more investors and more job were created trough her effort and we the kapampangan’s should be thankful for that in return. Pls. if you want to be a good leader, try to resolve first the internal problem in pampanga coz its been 2 years and you’ve done nothing yet.
al lucia
“two radio commentators were saying that instead of focusing on the eradication of jueteng, Gov. Panlilio should just let the issue go and focus his efforts elsewhere.”
A SICK SOCIETY INDEED!
carlos Teodoro
Specialization is good. One should do what he studied, and trained for and has had experience in.
Panlilio may have been good priest. Not a very good politician. And very poor in his analysis of situations.
Jueteng is not the problem, It was there before him, is still there now, and will remain long after he has gone back to the priesthood (his specialty)
The real problem is that he has not created income opportunities for his constituents.
So instead of going after Jueteng, he should channel his energies where it can do more good for his province.
samuel
convince all the people of the philippines to support gov. EDDIE ” AMONG ED ” PANLILIO to put an end of this gambling lord who ever they are, abolish this : JUETENG and all their protector.
Eterio
The only person who can fight against Jueteng, would be the person who was dislodge from Jueteng reasons, and that is President Erap para sa mahirap, remember Chavit Singson is already the deputy national security adviser of President GMA, why not place a person with experience in Jueteng.
mervin v sayo
Go to malolos , and youll find jueteng collectors in barangays.
Policemen,politicians , what are they doing. Nothing ,nothing ,nothing.
Governor Panlilio is the only one crying for jueteng to stop. Where are the other the rest of the Governors, mayors, they are all busy raking up money.
Ferdinand
I agree with you, majority of the politicians who are holding a position are corrupt, you can’t trust them anymore.
E.Tan
Sir:
We are a nation of gamblers. Why not make Jueteng legal? Making Jueteng illegal resulted in corruption and illegal pay off that had influenced our political system. Who are we to go against the will of the people. If people patronizes Jueteng, it is because they are in favor of it as a game of chance. What’s the difference between legal lottery and Jueteng? Are theynot both game of chance? Oh yes , there is a difference. The profit of lotto becomes source of money for ambulances to small communities and other charitable purposes. On the other hand, because jueteng has been illegal, it a good source of income for the jueteng lords. It has corrupted public officials and the government enforcers. Why not legalize jueteng so that the profit from it goes back to the community? I regret this will ever happen because there are 2 forces against legalization. On one hand, people with good intention like Gov. Panlilio and you, who preach based on morality; and on the other hand, corrupt people who benefits from it.
ET
sherwin
Nope. This country will not turn into a Jueteng Republic unless you’re referring to the Philippines as Luzon only. In Visayas and Mindanao, jueteng is not popular. In southern Philippines, jueteng’s equivalent is masiao although it’s not as rampant as the former in Luzon. People in the south prefer the legal lotto and bingo games.
Carlos
Eradication of Jueteng is the job of law enforcement . Last time I looked, Panlilio was not in law enforcement.
bob ocio, ny
What Jueting Republic Soon? We are already a Jueting Republic.
When a Jueting Lord supports a Senator of a Republic and that Senator becomes President of that Republic, and the son of the President of the Republic works as Congressman of that Republic; and Executive and Legislative Departments of that Republic works together with the Jueting Lord against those who are against jueting, like Gov. Panlilio, that Republic is already a Jueting Republic and we, the citizens are de facto Jueting Republicans. Thats why we are poor, and we are servants and exiles all over the world, while the President and his son may be nicknamed “Jueting Landlords.”
Our only grace is that we are against the assumption that we also agree with the Presidential and Congressional Jueting Republicans because we still continue to cry out our protest and pleading for God to save our Republic for the sake of our children and our country.
Thats why we must believe in ourselves and in God and we need to stay together and cry out together even in an imperfect Republic. Thats why we need to support Gov. Panlilio and put our action where our mouth is. Then these tyrants, will fear because we refuse to cooperate and we persevere.
“The greatest fear of tyrants are those who ask nothing for themselves.”- Gandhi.
Yes, we are capable of change. Kaya natin yan…if we know know how to serve the real Lord by resisting Jueting ourselves. We only become slaves against Jueting lords because we allowed them to be their slaves.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord, not jueting. kaya namin; kaya ni Gov. Panlilio, kaya ng Pilipino na magpakatino.
Bob Ocio
ray sicam
Pls. continue supporting the Governor of Pampanga. I am from Pangasinan and I am very proud of his undertakings. Mr. Keh, the Philippines needs someone like you to help people understand what is going on with the Republic. Thank you and may the Lord be at your side.
Leo Ebreo
Thank you for being vigilant in exposing one of the ills among many of why our country is in dire straits.
Ou country after Marcos’ regime had been in the Twilight Zone with four major forces in concert wreaking havoc to our zombie like society. They are: the CCP/NPA, MILF, TYCOONS with ilgotten wealth and Military top heavies, a.k.a. Puppet/kingmaker.
It’s a shame for our country with large pool of honest and talented men and women for so long inutile because majority are deep-captured to few but well entrenched TRAPOS and their corrupt minions.
Please continue your campaign to promote good governance and transparency both in the public and the business sector in our country.
Jack
Kubrador soliciting from bettors are all over the place in Ilocos Sur and Baguio.
I don’t think these activities are secret to authorities.
Joel
Eradicating Jueteng? That’s like saying “No Coffee at Starbucks” With the amount of the daily take in Jueteng, everybody has a price.
No use in replacing the dog, the collar and leash is there for the next dog.
Jueteng is a lost cause. Who cares? They are the only ones not benefiting from it. What time is the next draw?
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