Mr. President,
I rise again on a very urgent matter. This is not to wage war against fellow Senators, all of whom I hold in the highest respect. It is, rather, to urge them to have a second look at the moral hypocrisy of this administration.
The Arroyo administration was constructed on sound moral foundation. This was the loud proclamation of Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Her speeches at EDSA and in Malacañang and other fora are there for all to see.
In fact, in many occasions, President Gloria preached her fourfold belief system, her eightfold standards of good governance, and her three pillars of ruling this Nation. Let me recite all of them for the Nation to hear and heed.
For her belief system, she committed her governance to four core values as follows:
One, to fight poverty. She is still fighting.
Two, to fight low moral standards and win the fight. She is now losing.
Three, to fight politics of personality and patronage and win the fight. Believe it or not.
Four, to lead by example. Or is it through the Department of the Underground?
For high standards, she dedicated her administration to eight: trustworthiness, results-orientedness, poverty alleviation, citizen empowerment, constituency feedback, continuing professionalization, respect for others, and simple lifestyle.
Her government of this nation was constructed on three pillars: sound moral foundation, transparency and accountability, and effective implementation.
Mr. President, against these four core values, against these eight standards, against these pillars, I can not think of any rational argument. In fact, I praised Her Excellency in my speech before the Rotarians of Cebu in July. No less than Her Excellency conveyed her pleasure about that particular speaking engagement when we met shortly thereafter.
But, today, Mr. President, Her Excellency has every reason to be displeased – not at me but at herself. But that is nothing compared to the dissatisfaction of our people.
The Nation has now every reason to be displeased – not at the Senators but at the President herself. She has been helpless – in the last eight months – before the JUETENG LORDS.
Mr. President, these jueteng lords have taken and treated her as a helpless governor who reigns without ruling. They have succeeded to suck money from the majority who are poor. And President Arroyo – by her utter helplessness – has chosen to help these suckers even more.
Once again, jueteng corrodes and corrupts the police and other law enforcement agencies. President Arroyo pretends not to know. If at all she knows, she has chosen to do nothing.
Mr. President, it was former Ilocos Sur Chavit Singson who said to police officers this year that the only way to reduce jueteng is for cops to reject bribe money from the operators. But jueteng is back with a vengeance in Ilocos Sur. Worse, our police officers – including the National Bureau of Investigation Director Reynaldo Wycoco – are heavy takers of jueteng money. And we say that this administration ws founded on sound moral foundation.
Mr. President, I have with me a summary of jueteng operations in six regions of our country. It is based on actual field reports – as well as intelligence reports – of the Philippine National Police. It is yet the best testament to the moral indifference, if not callousness, of the Arroyo government.
Mr. President, let me now detail the daily gross income, the financiers, and the amounts that police officers receive from the jueteng lords.
Region 1, the very region of Presidential Consultant on anti-illegal gambling, former Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson and also of PCSO Chairperson Honey Girl Singson de Leon. The Police Regional Office 1 Director is newly-promoted Police Chief Superintendent Arturo Lomibao.
Ilocos Norte: PHP 2 million daily gross. Financiers: for District 1, Edmund Aquino; District 2, Richard Cua; and District 3, Danny Lao. Management: Jose “Bonito,” the beloved brother of the Presidential Consultant on anti-illegal gambling.
Ilocos Sur: the blessed province of the Presidential Consultant on anti-illegal gambling. PHP 2-3 million daily gross. There is only one operator and financier. He is Ronald Singson, the beloved son of the Presidential Consultant on Anti-illegal Gambling.
La Union: PHP 3 million daily gross. Financiers: for District 1, Danny Abasilla and for District 2, Bong Artajos. Management: Romy Lajara.
Pangasinan: PHP 5-6 million daily gross. Financiers and operators: District 1, Aber Chachingco; District 2, Bong Cayabyab; District 3, Roland Villegas; District 4, Luding Boongaling; District 5, Efren de la Cruz; and District 6, Boy Bata. Incidentally, the Police Provincial Director of Pangasinan is well-known to ISAFP Chief Col. Victor Corpus. He is newly-promoted Police Senior Superintendent Boogie Mendoza.
How much is reported to be the take of the PNP Regional Director? It is PHP 2 million a month. This is separate from the takes of Provincial Directors which range from a low of PHP 300,000 to a high of PHP 1 million. Now we know why these officers should – and must – pass the Commission on Appointments.
Region 2: The Police Regional Office Regional Director is Police Chief Superintendent Dodong Resos.
Cagayan: PHP 300,000 daily gross. Financier and operator is Danny Soriano who is the brother of a senior police officer in Camp Crame, Police Senior Superintendent Jeff Soriano.
Isabela: PHP 4 million daily gross. Financier and Operator: Rodolfo Bong Pineda.
Nueva Vizcaya: PHP 800,000 daily gross. Financiers and Operator: Boy Tuzon.
Quirino: P 300,000 daily gross. Financier and operator: Luding Boongaling.
In Region 2, the Police Regional Office Director is reported to have a monthly take of P 1.3 million.
Region 3: The Police Regional Office Regional Director is newly-promoted Police Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Berroya. He is reported to have a monthly take of PHP 3 million. The joke in Camp Crame is that he already advanced his take yp to December this year.
Bataan: PHP 2 million daily gross. Financier: Bong Pineda. Management: Ruben Pineda who is Bong’s brother.
Pampanga: PHP 6 million daily gross. Financiers and operators for Lubao, Bacolor, Guagua, and Angeles City – Bong Pineda with a PHP 2 million gross daily; for San Feranando, Melchor Calaug, PHP 1.5 million gross daily; for Angeles City and Arayat, Paris Tolentino, PHP 1 million gross daily; for Apalit, Otto Balboa, ——-; for San Fernando, Mabalacat, and Mexico. Mario Garcia, PHP 1 million gross daily; for Macabebe, ex-Mayor Tetangco; 4th District of Pampanga, Mayor Corazon Lacap, the wife of DOH Undersecretary Epifanio Lacap.
Pampanga is the home province of the President. Everything is different there, including the operation of jueteng.
Tarlac: PHP 2-2.3 million gross daily. Financier: Engr. Constantino Palad. For Tarlac City, daily gross is PHP 400,000 to PHP 500,000. Financier and operator is Bebot Roxas.
Zambales: PHP 1.5-2 million gross daily. Financier: Son of Governor Vic Magsaysay. Management: Peping Beldan. In Olongapo City, daily gross: PHP 600,000 – PHP 800,000 daily gross; financier, Aging Lalisan; Management, Totoy Lisan.
Nueva Ecija: PHP 5 million gross daily. Financier, Luding Boongaling. Management, Elan Elegano.
Bulacan: PHP 6 million daily. Financiers and operators: Mayor Boy Viceo, RJ Banzon for Meycauyan, Somera for Santa Maria and San Jose, and Oca Morales for Santa Maria.
We come to Region 4. The Police Regional Office 4 Regional Director is Police Chief Superintendent Dominador Reyes. He is reported to have a monthly take of P4 million.
Batangas: PHP 5 million gross daily, Financier: Mayor Armand Sanchez of Sto. Tomas. Management: Atong Adriano.
Cavite – PHP 3 million daily gross. Financiers and operators: Bong Pineda with his manager Ruben Pineda; Gani Cupcupin of Navotas and Malabon; Alias Ebeng of Laguna; Joe Combat for Naic; Alias Beto for Alfonso; and Oying Bida for Amadeo.
Laguna: PHP 3 million daily gross. Financiers and operators: for San Pablo City, Bong Pineda, Arthur Reyes, Romy Aquino, and Totoy Haruta; for Calamba, George Fajardo, Rolly Fajardo, and Dading Lajara. There are two others, namely: Elmer Nepomoceno and Romy Bijasa.
Quezon: PHP 5 million gross daily. Sole financier and operator: Rosario Magbuhos.
Rizal: PHP 3 million gross daily. Financiers and operators: Bong Pineda, Tony Santos, and Cesar Reyes.
Mindoro Oriental: PHP 600,000 to PHP 700,000 gross daily. Financier and operators: Cesar Reyes.
Mindoro Occidental: PHP 600,000 to PHP 700,000 gross daily. Financier and operators: Jun Dimacuja and Arnulfo Malacana who is a policeman assigned with the PNP CIDG.
Region 5: The Police Regional Office 5 Regional Director is Police Chief Superintendent Enrique Galang. He is reported to have a monthly take of PHP 4 million.
Albay: PHP 5 million gross daily. Financier and operator: David Ebralino.
Camarines Sur: PHP 2.5-3 million gross daily. Financier: Tony Ong of San Pablo City. Management: Art Katigbak who fronts for Bong Villafuerte, the Governor’s son.
Camarines Norte: PHP 1.7-2 million gross daily. Financier: Tony Ong of San Pablo City. Management: Art Katigbak.
Sorsogon – P800,000-1 million gorss daily. Financier and operator: Edilberto Caro. For Bulan, the financier is Tabio Caponpon and management is Boy Guan.
And last but not the least is National Capital Region. The Police Regional Office Director is Police Deputy Director General Edgar Galvante. He is an exception. There is no report that he takes money from jueteng operators and financiers.
This is not the case with the NBI Director who is retired Police Deputy Director General Reynaldo Wycoco. The reports are to the effect that he is using three collectors who front for him. They are Superintendent Melito Manilin, Cris Garcia and Totoy Montes.
Let me also add the name of newly-promoted Police Director Nestorio Gualberto who heads the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detective Group. His monthly take is P1.8 million. There is another senior officer in Camp Crame who is made of the same mold – PNP Intelligence Group Director Roberto Delfin who employs Ely Fontanilla and Jess Orsula as collectors.
Mr. President, the message is clear when the NBI Director, CIDG Director and the Intelligence Group Director are into jueteng as takers, jueteng is not going to go away.
And if DILG Secretary Jose Lina remains unaware, it is time to investigate his Task Force Jericho. His man, Police Senior Superintendent Pedro Tangco, is reportedly using elements of Regional Intelligence and Security Offices to collect jueteng payola in Central Luzon.
Another Jericho man is Senior Superintendent Orlando Mabutas who collects in the Ilocos and Cagayan Valley Regions. Still another Jericho man, Police Senior Superintendent Mascariñas who collects through Senior Inspector George Bustos in both Southern Tagalog and Bicol Regions.
Mr. President, there are five Police Districts in Metro Manila. Jueteng is rampant in all of their jurisdictions. Let me give the details.
City of Manila: Eric Ang of Binondo as operator and financier has daily collections of PHP 650,000-750,000; Joe Lazaro of Meycauayan, PHP 700,000 to PHP 800,000 to PHP 900,000; Tony Santos of Marikina, PHP 450,000 – PHP 500,000; and Edilberto Caro, PHP 550,000 to PHP 650,000.
City of Manila is under the police jurisdiction of the Western Police District under newly-promoted Police Chief Superintendent Nicanor Pacinos.
CAMANAVA: Augusto Lisan of Navotas as operator and financier has daily collections of PHP 400,000; RJ Banzon of Marikina, PHP 740,000; Boy Aquino of Valenzuela, PHP 120,000; and Tony Santos, PHP 400,000. CAMANAVA is under the police jurisdiction of the Northern Police District under newly-promoted Police Chief Superintendent Vidal Querol.
Quezon City: Wilfredo Apricano, PHP 750,000 – PHP 650 daily gross; Edilberto Caro, PHP 850,000 daily gross; Mayor Boy Viceo, PHP 350,000; Tony Santos, PHP 480,000. Quezon City is under police jurisdiction of the Central Police District headed by newly-promoted Police Chief Superintendent Rodulfo Tor.
Southern Metropolis: Financier and operator Toto Lacson, PHP 925,000 to 1 million gross daily; Edilberto Caro, PHP 530,000 gross daily; Ruben Pineda PHP 400,000; and Teddy Tamayo, PHP 130,000. This part of metropolis is under the police jurisdiction of the Southern Police District headed by newly-promoted Police Chief Superintendent Jose Guttierez.
Eastern Metropolis: Financier and operator Joel Guevarra of Marikina City, PHP 250,000 to PHP 300,000 gross daily; Cris de la Paz of Marikina City, PHP 450,000; and Edilberto Caro, PHP 250,000. The eastern metropolis is under the police jurisdiction of the Eastern Police District under Police Chief Superintendent George Aliño.
Mr. President, many investigations have been already made on the illegal gambling that is jueteng. I have to ask yet for another one – not to discuss the immorality of jueteng but, rather, to discover how we can spare our police officers from the grease graft, and corruption by jueteng lords.
Mr. President, I am not sure that our police officers alone can terminate the illegal gambling that is jueteng. But I am sure that they can be honorable enough not to take anything from jueteng lords, operators, and financiers.
We succeeded during my time as Chief PNP to impose the no-take policy. But President Arroyo appears to care only for the title of Commander-in-Chief. She has utterly failed to command service, honor and justice from the police.
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