MIRIAM URGES SENATE BLUE RIBBON TO INVESTIGATE OFFICIALS CLOSE TO AQUINO FOR JUETENG

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago today called on the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to investigate officials close to the Aquino administration for allegedly coddling jueteng operators.

In Senate Resolution No. 167, which she filed today, Santiago said that jueteng, although illegal, has been a source of lucrative illicit income since time immemorial for certain public officials in any administration, notably the DILG secretary, his undersecretaries, and other subordinates; the PNP chief, the regional and provincial police directors, and other subordinates; and certain mayors and governors.

According to Santiago, big-time jueteng operators have lost no time courting certain influential people in the Aquino administration to serve as protectors and coddlers of jueteng.

"Jueteng cannot flourish in a province if it is not protected by corrupt government officials," Santiago said. "It's either certain officials are benefitting through bribes and pay-offs, or are purposely not doing anything to eradicate jueteng."

The Office of the President earlier challenged retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz, head of the NGO Krusadang Bayan Laban sa Jueteng, to name the government officials close to the present administration who are involved with jueteng.

Santiago said that the Office of the President's statements were "a standard defense which is unacceptable because identifying jueteng operators is the task of the DILG and PNP chief."

"One of the most pressing challenges to an administration that adopted anti-corruption as a political platform should be the elimination of jueteng and the immediate removal from office of people surrounding the President when this early, such people are already raising suspicions about their complicity in jueteng, because of their lack of competence, experience in anti-jueteng work, and notoriety," Santiago said.