GMA: Stop finger pointing on jueteng

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines  – President Arroyo urged her critics yesterday to stop finger pointing on the issue of jueteng.

She was apparently referring to Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio who earlier had said that the illegal numbers game has persisted in the province allegedly with the support of Malacañang.

In a short talk before a crowd that gathered in front of the “Bahay ng Puti,” the presidential residence here, yesterday afternoon, the President urged all national and local officials to “fight anything that’s illegal.”

“It is important, I call on everybody, I call on all officials, both local and national, to stop finger pointing and help one another,” she said.

Mrs. Arroyo lamented that such an allegation could emanate from her home province.

The rally of support for the President was attended by Pampanga congressmen, including her son, second district Rep. Mikey Arroyo, mayors, priests led by Fr. Jun Mercado and leaders of civil society groups.

They presented to her a “manifesto and declaration of support” that noted “apparent efforts to destroy the credibility and undermine” her administration.

“The amount of black propaganda cannot change perception that the President has brought distinct pride and honor to the people of Pampanga and continue to foster economic growth and stability not only in Pampanga but in the entire country,” the manifesto stated.

In an interview, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno challenged Panlilio to prove his allegation that the small town lottery (STL) of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) was being used as front for jueteng in Pampanga.

He said he had sent probers to verify Panlilio’s allegation and they found only legitimate STL operations in the province.

Panlilio earlier had said he was powerless to stop jueteng being masqueraded as STL, as the Philippine National Police failed to appoint his choice as provincial police director.