Pubdate: Thu, 26 Aug 2004 Source: Manila Times (Philippines) Copyright: 2004, The Manila Times Contact: http://www.manilatimes.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/921 Author: Jun Elias, Northern Luzon Bureau Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?1043 (Christianity) PNP PRIORITY: ANTI-ILLEGAL DRUG DRIVE, NOT JUETENG SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union-A high ranking police official assigned to the Ilocos region said that the eradication of the illegal drug trade and not the illegal numbers game (jueteng) is their first priority. The official, who declined to the identified, said the drug menace is their first concern because it affects national interest and the lives of the citizens. He said this menace and its hold on ranking police officials and influential politicians need to be cleansed. He said the campaign against illegal drugs should enjoy first priority because most of the reported crimes in our country are drug-related and there is a need to immediately arrest drug traffickers and their patrons in the police and government to stop the increase in the number of drug addicts. The official also blamed the national leadership and the police for the continuous operation of jueteng, saying that this form of gambling has corrupted people belonging to the institution. "We are conducting operations against jueteng but we are more concerned about illegal drugs because these affect our security and the lives of the people. Kailangan din kalusin 'yung mga opisyal ng gobyerno at police na kumukuha ng drug money sa mga drug lords," he said. The official said jueteng is rampant and unstoppable in the Ilocos region because their maintainers enjoy the protection of some police officials and politicians. He confirmed the allegations of some priests in this province that jueteng bets are being made and taken with impunity inside government offices and public places, even in areas near police stations or right under the noses of policemen. Priests in La Union have denounced jueteng continually without much effect. "We [Church] are one in opposing jueteng, but our call is being ignored by the authorities. Bishop Oscar Cruz is very vocal in condemning this illegal gambling and he's been advocating this move a long time ago. We are already tired [of the inaction of authorities]," the priests told The Manila Times recently. The clergy did not mention anything about jueteng during the visit of PNP Deputy Director Edgar Aglipay here, believing that Aglipay can promise them the moon regarding their antijueteng campaign but the promise will not be kept and the game's operators and protectors will just go on their merry way. Aglipay, the new PNP chief, briefed the La Union clergy last week about the illegal drug problem in the country and urged priests to help in the campaign for the eradication of illegal drugs.