Erap: Only legalization can stop jueteng 07/14/2010

Erap: Only legalization can stop jueteng

07/14/2010 Reacting to statements made by President Aquino that legalization of jueteng is not a priority of his government, and that a training course on livelihood would be the answer to a stop to jueteng activities, former President Joseph Estrada yesterday urged Aquino to legalize jueteng. In a tele-phone inter-view with the Tribune, Estrada pointed out that jueteng has long been in the country, and no presi-dent has been able to put a stop to the illegal numbers game, intimating that the course of action being taken by Aquino — that of training people who play the illegal numbers game to invest their time in more “worthwhile” projects and find jobs — won’t stop jueteng all over the country. “Just how many administrations have we had, and all failed to put a stop to jueteng because not one administration had jueteng legalized,” he stress. Estrada had been batting for the legelization of the illegal number games and even a senator, he delivered a privilege speech urging Aquino’s mother, Cory, and the Congress to legalize jueteng and be rid of the scourge. “That is fact. I deliveed that speech in the Senate. I have been fighting for jueteng’s legalization. That way, not only will government get additional funds legitimately. Corruption will be curbed, and best of all, there will still be jobs for the cabos and the cobradors, who will now be earning legitimately,” Estrada told the Tribune. When reminded that he was charged and convicted for plunder for receiving protection money from jeuteng operators, Estrada said: “You all know that my trial and conviction was politically motivated. They (government and the courts) took the contradictory testimonies of the self-confessed crook, Chavit Singson, instead of judging on the merits of the case and the clear lack of evidence to convict me on jeuteng and plunder,” he stressed.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100714hed3.html

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