MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 15, 2012) – Pangasinan Gov. Armando Espino is facing criminal charges after a town mayor and a village chieftain linked him to illegal gambling operations in the province.
Mayor Rodrigo Orduna, of Bunggalon town, said he came out in the open to put a stop to the nefarious activities that involved hundreds of millions of pesos in Jueteng operations.
Village chieftain Fernando Aligmano also said that police officials were protecting illegal gambling in the province.
Interior Sec. Manuel Roxas has ordered an investigation into the accusations and told Espino to get a lawyer who will defend him against all charges.
Roxas also ordered a revamp in the provincial police force for failing to stop illegal gambling in Pangasinan. Several police officers were also taking bribe money from Espino.
Orduna, a former bagman of Espino, filed plunder charges against the politician, who denied all accusations against him. Espino said all the allegations were politically motivated.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the resolve of government to eradicate illegal gambling operations is unwavering.
“The President has directed Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Mar Roxas to build a strong case and ensure the safety of the witnesses who will testify against Jueteng operations and the alleged involvement of Governor Espino in the Province of Pangasinan,” Lacierda told the Mindanao Examiner.
He said Roxas’ order of reshuffling of police personnel in Pangasinan is to determine culpability, if any, and to guarantee that there will be no whitewash in the investigation.
“We are determined to pursue this case to its logical end under the rule of law and should serve as a warning to syndicates and coddlers of illegal gambling operations to stop or be stopped,” he said.
Retired Lingayen and Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, who is a known anti-Jueteng crusader, said people behind or involved in Jueteng have resorted in the past silencing people that have gone against or exposed the intricacies of the multimillion numbers racket.
“Maingat na maingat ako sa mga pagsabi ng mga whistleblowers sapagkat meron nang dalawa sa aming mga kasama ang pinatay at hinahangaan ko sila sa kanilang paglabas at panalangin na sana’y patnubayan sila,” he said in a report by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)
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