Puno: No proof I’m jueteng protector

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Embattled former Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno said Friday, September 14, there was no evidence to prove allegations hurled against him, such as his alleged role as protector of the illegal numbers game, jueteng.

“My accusers had no evidence whatsover to substantiate their accusations. My accusers knowingly lied…” he said in his opening statement before a Senate inquiry.

“Two years after [the allegations surfaced], not a single case has been filed against me,” he said.

Puno, a close friend of President Benigno Aquino III, is being investigated for his alleged irregular powers over the Philippine National Police (PNP), his role in the alleged anomalous procurement of arms for the police, and his attempt to secure documents from the residence of his late boss, Jesse Robredo, a day after the latter’s plane crashed.

Despite failing to confirm his attendance, Puno showed up in the probe initiated by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, chair of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revisions of codes and laws.

PNP chief Ricardo Bartolome and retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz were also present. Members of Aquino’s Cabinet, however, were no-shows.

Jueteng protectors

Cruz and Santiago said it was impossible for jueteng operations in the country to flourish without protection from government officials.

“Imposibleng wala, kasi ilegal iyan,” Cruz said. (It’s impossible that there’s no protector because that’s illegal.)

Cruz also testified against Puno before the Senate in 2010. He named Puno and former PNP chief Jesus Verzosa as protectors of the illegal numbers game. He said the two received monthly payouts from game operators.

But Cruz admitted he could not produce evidence to prove his claim because transactions “come in cash and no receipts are given.”

Santiago then asked Puno if he received jueteng payouts. “Hindi po (no), Puno replied.

“Kung hindi ikaw, may protektor pa rin sila on national level,” she answered back. (If it’s not you, they still have a protector on national level.)

She asked him again if it was possible the late DILG chief or anyone in Malacañang received payouts. Puno said he didn’t know.

‘Remiss’ in duties

Even if there was no evidence against Puno, Santiago said continuing jueteng operations in the country prove that he as well as Bartolome were remiss in their duties.

“Jueteng is as strong as before everywhere, most specifically in Luzon.”

“Since PNP has mandate to investigate, since Usec for peace and order has power of supervision, then it appears that both have been remiss in their duties,” she said.

Bartolome countered Santiago’s statements, citing the almost 2,000 cases he said were filed since January relating to illegal gambling. He however was not sure if any of those facing the cases was convicted.

Santiago said gross receipts for jueteng reach millions of pesos daily.

She said out of 16 cities in the capital, 6 are “tolerating” jueteng. She also cited a number of provinces in various regions that are doing the same.

She said in 2010, Laguna recorded the biggest receipts at P14 million, followed by Pampanga (P9-M), Pangasinan (P9-M), Batangas (P8.5-M) and Bulacan (P7.5-M), among others.

She said 1% of the net earnings of the jueteng syndicate in the country went to the DILG Undersecretary, PNP chief and Crime Investigation and Detection group head. – Rappler.com