Both involve money, but that’s as far as the similarity in their operation goes. Jueteng is a scheme where money is staked for a much higher return that is not certain to come because the result wholly or chiefly depends upon chance. The bettor parts with his money fully knowing that he may not get any single centavo back. In the pyramiding investment scheme (or scam), money on a bigger scale also changes hands. But the "investor" parts with his hard earned cash on the loose assurance that he will get it back plus earnings of as high as 60 percent or 70 percent per annum without being informed that there is a risk he may also lose his entire investment. By their modus operandi therefore, jueteng is more transparent as it is less deceitful. And in terms of economic impact, the pyramid scams are more harmful as they involve relatively bigger amounts.
They may differ in their modus operandi, but significantly, jueteng and pyramid have two things in common: they prey on the weaknesses of the Filipinos and they thrive on the infirmity of our law enforcement.
In this country, industriousness easily stands out because it is rare. Ordinary Filipinos do not have a reputation for hard work. Their aversion to any kind of work inclines them to indulge in more siestas and to observe more fiestas. No less than our national hero, Jose Rizal admitted our indolence.
And indolence is the main reason for our bahala na or relaks lang attitude. There is always that tendency to leave almost everything to chance. A tendency that simply makes us too ready to believe anything, to be easily deceived.
Our indolence, and the gambling instincts and gullibility that arise from it, are the weaknesses that any game of chance or get rich quick scheme abundantly feed on. For as long as we cannot overcome them, jueteng and pyramid are here to stay.
And they will flourish even more because the government officials charged with stopping them are not doing their jobs aggressively and wholeheartedly. Or they are just looking the other way. Except for a few officials and in rare instances, our government has really become a government of reaction rather than action. Unless a citizen complains or points out illegalities that are so flagrant and obvious, they will not do anything. Our local officials in the case of jueteng, and the SEC in the case of the pyramid scam best exemplify this kind of lackluster law enforcement.
In the case of jueteng, a crusade known as jueteng free Philippines headed by former CBCP President, Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz, DD, organized a "parangal para sa mararangal" recognizing public officials who had merely done the job ordinarily expected of them. The event will be held on April 6, 2003 at 6 p.m. at Traders Hotel, Roxas Blvd. Archbishop Cruz said that they deserve recognition for taking the simple step of saying no to jueteng despite being restrained by the political situation and/or socio-economic conditions within their province or municipality. Recognizing officials for merely doing their job, may look odd indeed. But in the Philippine setting, this may just be the first correct step to take for a more effective law enforcement against jueteng.