Skip to content

Aquino’s unshaken trust on Versoza

President Aquino’s trust and admiration of recently retired Philippine National Police Chief Jesus Versoza have remained unshaken despite the Aug. 23 tragedy and the jueteng exposé of retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz.

In his speech during the PNP change of command ceremony last Tuesday, Aquino heaped praises on Versoza.

He said: “At tiyak po akong aabutin tayo ng gabi dito kung iisa-isahin pa natin ang mga tagumpay ni General Versoza. Kaya naman po kasama ko ang sambayanang Pilipino sa paghahayag ng taos-pusong pasasalamat sa tapat at mahusay na pamumuno niya sa PNP.
“Sa loob ng halos apat na dekada, isinabuhay niya ang tapang, disiplina at propesyonalismo. Sa kabila ng kislap ng maraming medalyang iginawad sa kanya, namayani pa rin ang kanyang sinseridad at prinsipyo, dahil batid niyang ang pinakamalaking gawad na maibibigay ninuman ay ang tiwala ng taumbayan sa kapulisan.

“ Sa likod ng sangkatutak na batikos at pamumulitikang kanyang pinagdaanan, hinarap niya ang mga ito nang may integridad at walang kinikilingan upang maitama ang anumang pagkakamali, at patuloy na mapaigting ang interes ng sambayan.”

The day after Aquino talked of Versoza as “the embodiment of courage, discipline and professionalism”, ABS-CBN came out with a report that Versoza and Interior Undersecretary Rico E. Puno were the ones referred to by retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz as officials in the Aquino administration accepting jueteng payola. A certain retired Colonel Cachuela was the bagman, ABS-CBN said.

ABS-CBN said according to their sources the two officials were getting P5 million each monthly as jueteng payola, P2 million on slow days.
While Puno denied the bribe, Versoza declined to answer.

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo also said as early as July he wrote Versoza telling him of reports about the resurgence of jueteng in Metro Manila.

Versoza’s reply, Robredo said, was a report that he “has directed all PNP units to intensify campaign against all forms of illegal gambling…and to submit a weekly accomplishment report to the office of the PNP chief.”

That’s “tapat at mahusay na pamumuno niya sa PNP.”

What more could Aquino be thinking when he spoke of “mahusay na pamumuno sa PNP?” Was he thinking of Versoza leaving Manila for Cagayan de Oro when there was an ongoing hostage incident involving 25 foreign nationals?

Aquino hailed Versoza as “a person of integrity.”

Last month the Ombudsman included Versoza’s wife, Cynthia, as among those to be charged in connection with the 2008 Euro-Generals scandal.

In October 2008, when Versoza was barely a month as PNP chief, a large PNP delegation consisting of 12 generals , two wives, and a PNP supplier were detained at the Moscow International Airport after the wife of PNP director (now retired) Eliseo de la Paz was caught carrying 105,000 euros (P6.9 million) in undeclared cash in excess of the allowable limit. Investigation later revealed that de la Paz was actually carrying P9.2 million.

The PNP delegation attended the 77th Interpol General Assembly in St Petersburg. Versoza didn’t go but his wife did. What’s the business of a wife of a police officer in an Interpol conference without the husband? There’s a term for that: junket.

That’s what officials of “integrity” do.

Verzosa admitted that he has been offered a civilian position in the government and that he would be willing to assist the Aquino government in a private capacity. Puno mentioned Versoza as one of those he would want to be DILG secretary if Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo would be replaced.

That’s the way to the “matuwid na daan.”

Published inMalayaPhilippine National Police

85 Comments

  1. Isagani Isagani

    Okay, so Rev. Cruz came through and named names. Now we are waiting for the other shoe to drop. Where’s the proof to this charge?

    If Rev. Cruz produces strong evidence about Puno and Versosa, “Anak ng pating,” natanso ang boto ko. Dahil kung di konsitidor itong si Ninoy, e tanga pala siya.

    At ano pa susunod diyan, walang katapusan na intriga ng coup de etat. Oo etat na naman ang nakaupo sa palasyo!

  2. perl perl

    isagani, expected ang ganyang mga balita.. kung mga alegasyon lang… hindi yan makakabawas ng tiwala ko sa presidente… huwag lang mangyayari ang mga ganitong bagay:

    1. kapag malakas ang ibidinsya na si versoza tumatanggap ng jueteng payola simula ng araw ng pagupo ni PNoy at binigyan pa din ni PNoy si versoza ng posisyon sa gobyerno…

    2. kapag malakas ang ibidinsya na si Puno ay tumatanggap ng jueteng payola at hindi tinanggal ni PNoy sa pwesto…

    dapat natin tignan dito ang mga ibidinsya at kung ano ang magiging hakbang ng presidente….

  3. Ellen,

    I don’t know what to say… I’m just gobsmacked!!! Mr Aquino is seriously undermining my confidence in this “new” government.

  4. sleeplessinmontreal sleeplessinmontreal

    Siguro nga, all set na si PNoy na alisin nang tuluyan Robredo at italaga si Versoza bilang kalihim ng DILG. Sa ganun, magkatambal sila ni Puno sa pagpapatigil ng jueteng sa kabila ng kontrobersiya na kapwa sila isinasangkot.

    Siguro nga, buo na ang mindset ni PNoy sa pagtatalaga kay Versoza at naniniwala siyang malinis ang mga Euro generals kung saan kasama ang asawa ni Versoza nang mahulihan ng euro dollars sa Russia.

    Pero hindi nakasisiguro si PNoy na ang mga nagluklok sa kanya bilang pangulo, lalo na ang mga maliliit na umaasa ng pagbabago, ay patuloy na maniniwala na ang tinatahak niya ngayon ay ang “matuwid na landas”.

  5. Tedanz Tedanz

    Isa lang ang masasabi ko kay Noynoy …. isa siyang Bulag, Pipi at Bingi.

  6. martina martina

    Kung before the hostage crisis at sa latest jueteng revisit of Bishop emeritus Cruz, pwede siguro paniwalaan o may matanso si Penoy sa mga papuri niya para kay Verzosa. Pero at present, a big NO WAY. Sabi pa ni Penoy “kasama ko ang sambayanan ..”, di ako kasama diyan.

    Tingnan natin kung talagang ‘heads will roll’ sa 23 August hostage drama, at sino sila, otherwise, it will be an utter, absolute disappointment of him as president.

  7. florry florry

    Correction for the record – It’s not Cruz who revealed the names. It’s ABS-CBN, a supporter, friend and ally of Noynoy. Ask the network for evidence, not from Cruz.

  8. chi chi

    A ganun, pinuri ni Pnoy hanggang langit si Verzosa! Bahala na sya sa buhay nya!!!

    Aha! Si Puno pala talaga ang appointing power para sa DILG, personal choice niya si Verzosa! That explains why Robredo is only “acting”, Pnoy was just waiting for Verzosa’s retirement, nadiskarel lang ni Mendoza! Bloody Mary!!!

  9. florry florry

    Noynoy’s trust on Verzosa can be gleaned from the fact that the latter did not cooperate with Bangit last election on the alleged plot of Gloria to do everything to remain in power. His impression on him was so profound that nothing, even his refusal to answer questions on his alleged jueteng payola didn’t make a dent on his trust.

    Blame it to the other side of his heritage, just like her late mom, their impressions and beliefs on someone or something are lasting and can never be changed by any circumstance.

    Kaya kung sino man ang mapili niyang paniwalaan at pagkatiwalaan ay talagang napaka-swerte tulad nitong si Verzosa. At kung totoong sangkot ito sa jueteng at inilagay pa ni Noynoy sa DILG, para siyang naglagay ng isang bank robber/holdupper na siyang magbabantay sa bangko. That will only mean that the brain is not properly working.

    Then it might be better for him to just stay indoors in his office and avoid going out under the sun because his balding head can no longer shield his brain from drying up.

  10. hay naku…kung si gloria nga hindi napaalis sa karereklamo ng maraming tao, si noynoy pa kaya?

    …its high time he asserts his decision, he’s the president, when asked why he put versoza in that position, he should be able to say “because i can!” tapos mangisay na lang kayo sa inggit at inis…anong magagawa nyo?

    …these are all “allegations” eh si robredo nga may skeletons din in the closet…hindi lang sinabi ni noynoy ang totoong dahilan kung bakit hindi siya ang head ng dilg ngayon, may bahid jueteng din siya…

    ..so lets just wait for the revealer of truths – time…

  11. At kung totoong sangkot ito sa jueteng at inilagay pa ni Noynoy sa DILG, para siyang naglagay ng isang bank robber/holdupper na siyang magbabantay sa bangko. That will only mean that the brain is not properly working.
    ————————-

    “kung”

  12. if we line up every police official, every mayor, every governor, to include the barangay tagays, nuns, priests, bihops, who are directly and indirectly tainted with jueteng – baka wala ng matira?

  13. chi chi

    “Then it might be better for him to just stay indoors in his office and avoid going out under the sun because his balding head can no longer shield his brain from drying up” – florry

    Ouch! Bwahahaha!!! Nice one, florry!

  14. its better he learns to assert his authority than perenially trying to please everybody…
    …he only has to please us, his loyal supporters…to hell with the rest…

  15. …in fact, tataya ako sa jueteng bukas, to directly support the silly numbers game and put my money where my mouth is…kayo? talk, talk, talk…lang…

  16. perl perl

    kayo naman nung nanindigan si Versoza laban klay Gloria… puring-puri kayo sa mama… ngayon namang pinuri ni PNoy yung mama dahil nagretiro na at may lumabas na alegasyon… halos isuka nyo na si PNoy at parang gusto nyo na ulit magpalit ng presidente…

    ang hihina nyo naman…

    is the Filipino worth dying for?

  17. perl perl

    alam nyo… khit na si batman, spiderman, superman.. at kahit sino pang machoman.. sasama ang loob sa inyo eh… hindi pa natin alam buong pangyayari… humuhusga na tayo agad…

  18. NFA rice NFA rice

    @perl #16,

    We are not asking for PNoys replacement. Don’t you think it’s a good idea to clean his house while it’s still early?

  19. patria adorada patria adorada

    I will give Pnoy a year to sharpen up his moves after that if nothing good happens,i will not hesitate to delete him from my FB account.hindi na kami friend,bahala na siya sa buhay niya!!!

  20. Libra Libra

    Aside from Ping Lacson, all other PNP Chiefs in the past were all on the take. Batang musmos pa ako naririnig ko na ang jueteng. We should not be hypocrites…if we cannot solve jueteng, then it’s high time we legalize it. At least, the government gets some revenue from it. Paano naman malulutas iyan eh mismong si Archbishop Cruz na nga ang nagsabing tumatanggap din ang mga Obispo at Pari? That’s why when Erap suggested that it be legalized, I’m among those who agreed. Siguro kung si Erap ang pangulo ngayon at least nagawan ng kaunting paraan iyan. But Erap is history. Magtiyaga na lang tayo kay Noynoy na inilagay ng Civil Society.

  21. tru blue tru blue

    “I will give Pnoy a year to sharpen up his moves after that if nothing good happens,i will not hesitate to delete him from my FB account.hindi na kami friend,bahala na siya sa buhay niya!!!” – patria

    It’s the only logical approach. Hindi yung “fire everyone na”, pronto! Gluerilla reigned for almost nine years; almost lahat dito were calling for her head then due to massive greediness and corruption, nothing happened. I’ll give Panot some time – one year max to make proper appointments and good decisions for the country…otherwise que sira-sira na talaga.

  22. perl perl

    NFA,
    tama… kahit sinong may bahay… dapat talgang maglinis na bakuran…

    pero ang sinasabi ko dito ay ang bilis na paniniwala sa mga alegasyon na hindi man lamang nasusuportahan ng matibay o magandang ibedensya.. na dahilan din ng mabilis pagkawala ng tiwala sa presidente… at hindi impossibleng pagkabagsak nito..

  23. i don’t know why the media is so focused on “politics” nowadays? because it sells? no more sports, etc?

    …and the very thing that bothers me is why the hell aren’t there any public service information drive on “dengue” when all these tv stations, radio stations, print media can help stem the tide of dengue cases…so far i have 3 friends who have one child succumb to this already in the past two weeks and all of them affluent chinese…paano na lang kaya sa ibang lugar? heto na naman tayo, mas importante pa pag usapan ang controversy kaysa sumagip ng buhay ng tao…

    …talaga naman…

  24. NFA rice NFA rice

    @perl,

    Who can investigate Puno and Versoza? Robredo is only an acting secretary.

  25. Libra Libra

    Paano naman malulutas ni Penoy ang mga problema ng bansa kung tanghali na siyang gumising? Mismong yaya niya ang nagbulgar sa media noon.

  26. perl,

    cool ka lang…hindi basta babagsak yan, basta matuto lang siya to stand his ground…yung challenges ngayon, huwag lang siyang bumigay, nagpapalakas sa kanya…and its high time he realizes that being president is not all about being popular but making “hard” decisions…ones that even make him unpopular – but he’s the president, he can…

  27. Who can investigate Puno and Versoza? Robredo is only an acting secretary.
    ———————-

    ngeek! si robredo nga sangkot din sa jueteng…sabi nila… 🙂

  28. he has to show support for versoza, the police have been battered enough…too much…
    …let them keep their dignity and pride so they can “redeem” themselves…

  29. NFA rice NFA rice

    @juggernaut #25,

    Huh? Do you have a reference on that?

  30. Libra Libra

    With the ongoing fiasco about jueteng and the recent tragic hostage killing, we now seem to have forgotten other cases. Ano na ang nangyari sa isang bank executive na anak ng Manila Counsilor Ang na nanloko ng mga investors sa Binondo? What’s the status of the Alabang Boys and the killer Ivler Aguilar? And what about the C-5 Road scam involving Manny Villar?

  31. perl perl

    jug,
    hindi lalabas ang mga ganyang ingay kung walang gustong magpabagsak sa presidente… totoo man o hindi ang alegasyon… mas madaling bumagsak ang presidenteng gustong dumaan sa matuwid na daan…

  32. baycas2 baycas2

    why the hell aren’t there any public service information drive on ‘dengue’ when all these tv stations, radio stations, print media can help stem the tide of dengue cases” – juggernaut

    dapat talgang maglinis na bakuran” – perl

    Nasimulan na ni perl. Puksain ang mga lamok na nagdadala ng mga virus – dengue at jueteng.

  33. NFA rice NFA rice

    What I also find puzzling is why Noynoy is silent about Puno’s claim that jueteng emissaries attempted to bribe him? I mean he is adamant about Cruz and Cruz’s burden of naming ‘names’ and providing evidence. Doesn’t PNoy have P500-million intelligence funds at his disposal?

  34. parasabayan parasabayan

    Jug, don’t be like Pnoy to Versoza, bingi na, bulag pa at tatanga-tanga. When there is smoke, there is fire. People wont talk if they do not know something. Hindi como sinuportahan mo si Pnoy eh, ok lang lahat ang mga decisions niya. Be objective and watchfull.

    Something is not making sense to me on this Pnoy-Versoza connection. Hindi kaya may ginawang malaking pabor si Versoza para kay Pnoy noong election? For someone to stand by a tainted officer, makes me wonder.

  35. NFA rice NFA rice

    @parasabayan,

    Ayaw niyang nilang mapabagsak ang administrasying Aquino. Ang sa akin lang ay dapit linisan ni Aquino ang kanyang bahay para makalakad tayo sa matuwid na daan.

  36. parasabayan parasabayan

    NFA Rice, exactly my point! We want Pnoy to succeed on his promises. Hindi lang puro promises. Who would not like the Philippines to improve? But to do this will mean sacrificing a lot of your friends. My initiation to higher management was to fire my best friend. I has to do it! Her family was so good to me. Ipinagluluto pa ako ng pagkain. But I had a job to do. The documents and testimonies of how my friend tampered with the receipts and reports were so glaring, I had to put the company’s welfare first! The same should be the case with Pnoy. If he has to fire his friends to help the country, so be it. This is a responsibility he took an oath to fulfill.

  37. perl perl

    question:
    pano ba maging legal ang jueteng? dapat ba dumaan sa kongreso? o pwde na Executive order lang?

    kung kailngan dumaan sa kongreso, imposible maging legal yan… bakit? bukod sa mababawasan ang tongpats ng mga kongresista.. mababawasan din boto ng kongresitang maga-author ng batas…

    walang problema skin kung legal o ilegal… sa akin lang.. ipatupad ng maayos kung ano ang sinasabi ng batas…

  38. chi chi

    Kayo naman, paano babagsak si PNoy e 85% approval rating nyan. Kahit ano ang ingay ng media at mga bloggers at FB netizens walang mangyayari. Bakit kanyo, e sikat na sikat sa probinsya at kanayunan si kuya Noy, wala silang paki sa mga madada, hahaha! Besides, hawak ni Voltaire ngayon ang militar, kay Noy sila lahat ngayon. Ang Magdalo naman ay committed na sumuporta sa presidente.

    Bumabatikos lang ang mga tao, ganyan ang demokrasya…pero walang impositions na gawin kahit sinabi nya na mala-drama “kayo ang boss” ko! (DAW!!!)

    At tsaka wala akong nababalita na gustong bumagsak si PNoy, si Yuko lang, bwahahahaha!!!

  39. Pwes, e di tanggalin si Robredo, i-appoint si Versoza sabay deklara si Noynoy ng “Weder-weder lang. Gusto ko e, baket ba?”

    Ibasura yung kaso ng asawa sa Euro smuggling, i-exonerate pa doon sa kapalpakan nung bumiyahe habang dumarating yung histage deadline. Huwag aattend sa imbestigasyon, gamitin ang EO464.

    Pag may nag-akusa, “Nasaan ang ebidensiya?”.

    Yehey, resurected si Gloria.

    Tongue in, anew.

  40. vic vic

    Loyalty can cause Blindness, that was proven so many times in the past and it is true today. Many monarch, and Royalties lost their crowns (or their heads) due to their unconditional loyalties to their “trusted” friends and close aides only to turn them over to the enemies, usually for the prize of Gold.

    And in the Philippines today, for the Prize of kickbacks and secret commissions.

  41. clearpasig clearpasig

    Pnoy recent speech sa PNP ay gesture lamang dahil paalis na si Versosa. naniniwala pa rin ako na maaayos ang gulo after mairestate ang position ni Ribredi at paalisin si Puno base sa IIRC report. Pnoy can go back eat chicharon and coke.

  42. saxnviolins saxnviolins

    Paano mag-legalize ng jueteng? Invoke PD 1869, charter of PAGCOR, and ask PAGCOR to grant franchises for jueteng. (Diyan ang gapangan, who gets a franchise. I say, give everybody who has the capital.)

    The illegality of jueteng is declared in Article 195 of the Revised Penal Code, which states:

    Any person other than those referred to in subsections (b) and (c) who, in any manner shall directly, or indirectly take part in any game of monte, jueteng or any other form of lottery, policy, banking, or percentage game, dog races, or any other game of scheme the result of which depends wholly or chiefly upon chance or hazard; or wherein wagers consisting of money, articles of value or representative of value are made; or in the exploitation or use of any other mechanical invention or contrivance to determine by chance the loser or winner of money or any object or representative of value.

    Note, it says, jueteng or any other form of lottery is punishable. It is not only the operators who are punishable, but also those who take part in the game.

    Nakupo. Paano mo ikukulong ang milyon-milyon na NoyPi?

    However, that has been impliedly repealed by PD 1869, which states as follows:

    Subject to the terms and conditions established in this Decree, the Corporation is hereby granted for a period of twenty-five (25) years, renewable for another twenty-five (25) years, the rights, privilege and authority to operate and maintain gambling casinos, clubs, and other recreation or amusement places, sports, gaming pools, i.e. basketball, football, lotteries, etc. whether on land or sea, within the territorial jurisdiction of the Republic of the Philippines.
    Section 10, PD 1869

    Since the PAGCOR has been given the authority to conduct lotteries (note, generic yan, so kasama ang jueteng, which is actually a lottery), it is not illegal, if conducted under the aegis of the PAGCOR.

    Now how do the private operators come in? They can enter into management contracts with the PAGCOR, under Section 11.

    This is pursuant to the declaration of state policy in PD 1869, which states that:

    It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State to centralize and integrate all games of chance not heretofore authorized by existing franchises or permitted by law in order to attain the following objectives:

    Note, it says, not heretofore permitted by law. So jueteng, which was, until then, not permitted by law, has been subsumed in the all-embracing authority of the PAGCOR.

    (a) To centralize and integrate the right and authority to operate and conduct games of chance into one corporate entity to be controlled, administered and supervised by the Government;

    (b) It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State to centralize and integrate all games of chance not heretofore authorized by existing franchises or permitted by law in order to attain the following objectives:

    (a) To centralize and integrate the right and authority to operate and conduct games of chance into one corporate entity to be controlled, administered and supervised by the Government;

    (b) To establish and operate clubs and casinos, for amusement and recreation, including sports gaming pools (basketball, football, lotteries, etc.) and such other forms of amusement and recreation including games of chance, which may be allowed by law within the territorial jurisdiction of the Philippines and which will:(1) generate sources of additional revenue to fund infrastructure and socio-civic projects, such as flood control programs, beautification, sewerage and sewage projects, Tulungan ng Bayan Centers, Nutritional Programs, Population Control and such other essential public services; (2) create recreation and integrated facilities which will expand and improve the country’s existing tourist attractions; and (3) minimize, if not totally eradicate, the evils, malpractices and corruptions that are normally prevalent in the conduct and operation of gambling clubs and casinos without direct government involvement.

    Ayan na, matagal nang nalutas ni Macoy (or his bright boys) ang problema. Implementation na lang. And no, you do not need grandstanding legislators to debate ad nauseum, the morality of jueteng.

    Political will na lang ang kailangan, dahil mawawalan ng kita si Babalu.

  43. henry90 henry90

    Tedanz:

    Hayaan mo na ang balitaktakan. Expected na yan. Yung mga batikos normal na yan sa mga di bomoto sa kanya. Hndi nga sila bilib eh. So ano ang aasahan mo? O di lahat napapansin. Ang ipagpasalamat nila, may ‘freedom of spits’ pa rin sila. Parang US din yan. Ano ang aasahan mo sa Republican party? E di puro batikos kay Obama. Ganun talaga. Inis talo. Hanggang 2016 nga lang sila maiinis. 😛

  44. perl perl

    thanks much sax!

    Hawak pala talga ng presidente ang kapalaran ng jueteng… gusto gawing legal ni Erap ang jueteng.., sana gianwa na lang nya..ang problema, nakisaw-saw pa kasi kaya ayan tuloy.. naunahan sya ng mga jueteng lords…

    kung talang anti-jueteng ang policy ni PNoy at hindi sya tumatanggap ng payola… madali na para sa kanya tuldukan ang ganitong problema… kahit may baba pang nakasabit sa balikat nya…

    paglipas ng isa o dalawang taon at hindi man lang nabawasan ang problema… si Pnoy na mismo ang masasabi kong problema.. malalaman natin yan.. pero hindi sa ganito kaaga…

  45. Something is not making sense to me on this Pnoy-Versoza connection. Hindi kaya may ginawang malaking pabor si Versoza para kay Pnoy noong election? For someone to stand by a tainted officer, makes me wonder.
    —————————–
    parasabayan,

    if i were noynoy i would do the same. the pnp as an institution has been battered too much already and to serve a prominent figure like versoza’s head as an offering to appease the court of “public opinion” will not do any good.
    if versoza is accountable for anything, let “due” process take its course, not because some people say so…

  46. kung talang anti-jueteng ang policy ni PNoy at hindi sya tumatanggap ng payola… madali na para sa kanya tuldukan ang ganitong problema… kahit may baba pang nakasabit sa balikat nya…

    paglipas ng isa o dalawang taon at hindi man lang nabawasan ang problema… si Pnoy na mismo ang masasabi kong problema.. malalaman natin yan.. pero hindi sa ganito kaaga…
    ———————————-

    hindi ganun kadali yan perl, may simbahan pa…pero dapat umaksiyon na talaga tong si noynoy, pero pwede pa rin niyang sabihin “all out war against jueteng siya” anyway, anim na taon lang naman siyang maninilbihan kung gusto niyang ipaubaya sa susunod na administrasyon to…
    para sa akin, hindi dapat maubos ang oras niya dito – he must pick his battles, and focus on ones he can win first…
    …he can’t win them all…
    in sax’s post,
    “minimize, if not totally eradicate, the evils, malpractices and corruptions that are normally prevalent in the conduct and operation of gambling clubs and casinos without direct government involvement.”

    “minimize,” lang pala pwede na…

  47. when he said “daand matuwid” it does not mean to kowtow to the whims of those who criticize him…but to follow the rule of law…

  48. perl perl

    jug, agree!

  49. florry florry

    jug, that is if Noynoy let the due process roll, but as of the present, he is nailed by a 10-inch nail on the heroics and integrity of Verzosa and nobody can change that perception. And besides, I didn’t hear or read any order to put Verzosa on the hot seat.

    Now how can the due process run its course?

  50. …noynoy can opt for “status quo” leave jueteng alone and focus on more important issues, no past president has solved this issue anyway and he’s not running for reelection anyway…but if he really wants to be remembered as a “milestone” president or a game changer, use his powers to legalize it, he will be popular still but if he pulls it off at least he took out the one “corruptor” that is capable of tainting so many hands in government…
    …but its obvious he’s not the type who goes against the tide…well, i hope we have better luck on the next one…

  51. perl perl

    jug, hindi talaga madali yan… parang conflict sa Mindanao, MILF or NPA ang issue ng jueteng… sabi ko nga kahit mabawasan lang pwde na sakin…

    ang susi sa pagsugpo ng jueteng.. hindi lang basta political will… kailngan may malinis na kamay… President, DILG Sec at PNP Chief…

    kung sino man sa 3 ang may dungis.. siguragong pababagsakin ng jueteng….

  52. florry,
    i talked to some of versoza’s people (officers) and it seems that the supposed junket was really just a personal trip to europe, the money involved is basically what you need for shopping…if you buy like a grandfather’s clock, its more than half a million already, a chandelier, more than a million, etc., this is done every time unfortunately for some reason the authorities checked (they don’t normally).
    …now if versoza has some accountability for the hostages’ deaths, we’ll have to see the results of the investigation…
    re jueteng issue, i tell you, literally no one in the local government (except those in urban areas siguro like makati, etc) is not directly/indirectly involved here, so unless they arrest a million or so noypis (as sax mentioned), its difficult.
    …even if i put myself in their shoes i can’t assure i won’t touch jueteng even, just being real here…

  53. florry,
    if anyone should go after versoza, it should not be noynoy, he has to show the men that he is not easily swayed by public opinion but abides by the law…its better he makes a stand, whether its right or wrong, he has to take a stand, and its high time he did…we will not respect a president that is easily swayed, blown like a leaf in the wind…if its proven that versoza is guilty, then he lets him go, sorry walang personalan, i trusted you nakita mo naman, but we have to abide by the law…or something to that effect…

  54. kung hindi man lang niya mapuksa ang jueteng na yan, siguraduhin lang niya na hindi siya makisawsaw dito…anim na taon lang ang pagsasakripisyo niya, mabuhay na simple, ipakita sa atin lahat na pwedeng magkaroon ng matinong presidente kahit lahat ng tao niya hindi…

  55. if we can only put ourselves in his shoes (noynoy’s) and know what he knows, operate with the limitations, the myriad factors, i’m pretty sure we’ll do the same things…

  56. perl perl

    jug,
    hindi pwde status quo… Pnoy declared war whe he signed his executive orders.. the truth commission, anti-gocc bonuses, midnight appointments and his policy against anti-smuggling, anti-corruption, etc…

    ang pagdaan sa matuwind na daan… madaming malaking tao masasagasaan… tingin mo ba, manonood lang ang mga yan? hahanapan nila ng kahinaan ang presidente.. at doon sila babanat… kung jueteng ang kahinaan nya… siguradong hindi sya titigilan dyan…

    kung hindi nya kayang labanan ang jueteng at “lumihis sa matuwid na daan”… mabuti pang gawin na lang nyang legal… kesa magbingi-bingihan at magbulag-bulagan…

  57. perl,
    i agree with you…but he has to look at where he stands, is he strong enough to tackle jueteng? who will actually support him? remember the last president who tried got booted out after two years only, and he was mcuh more gutsy and well connected than the current one…
    …as i said, he has to pick his battles, start with the ones that are actually “winnable” then move on to the next…if he tackles the “unassailable” targets at the onset – he’ll lose, we all lose…

  58. #1 Okay, so Rev. Cruz came through and named names. Now we are waiting for the other shoe to drop. Where’s the proof to this charge?- Isagani

    The government has investigating agencies like the NBI and the police. They should do the gathering of evidence for anything that is illegal.

    Private individuals like Archbishop Cruz are doing their part of bringing this illegal activity and the connivance of some of his men to his and the public’s attention.

    The government should do their job.

  59. henry90 henry90

    From the standpoint of one who used to operate in counter-intelligence, I have learned that it is very difficult to prove bribery. Allegations won’t convict suspects. Evidence will. Do u think these bribe collectors are amateurs that they will just meet meet with the financiers anywhere and take the proection money. These corrupt police officers know how how to spot a tail. More often, bank deposits are preferred. For as long as the threshold of deposits(P500K?) is kept, the AMLC can’t do anything. Even a lifestyle check won’t yield anything if numerous dummies are used. So you see Archbishop Cruz, there is a whale of a difference between somebody telling u that so and so is on the take and actually proving it that he received the money. Unless of course one is like Erap na kailangang makita ang cash at kailangang ideliver pa sa Malacanang. Sarap kasi siguro higaan ang P20 million no?. Sa mga nagpapauto na kayang ipatigil ang jueteng, you can dream on. As I’ve said in previous threads, sakit na nang Pinoy yan. Gamutin nyo muna ang simtomas at baka sakaling gumaling. 😛

  60. Jake Las Pinas Jake Las Pinas

    Kung walang kumukolekta ng taya, walang tataya sa jueteng.

  61. Kung walang kumukolekta ng taya, walang tataya sa jueteng.
    ——————————-

    last two nga may komololekta…marami pang maiimbento ang mga noypi basta pwedeng pagkakitaan…
    …maraming taong kailangan maghanapbuhay kasi, kanya kanyang diskarte, yung iba naman holdup, bank robbery, kidnapping, akyat bahay…paano kung may milagro na natigil talaga ito? eh dun pupunta ang mga nadsiplaced sa ibang pwedeng pagkakaitaan na naganggit ko sa itaas? na leche na…

  62. Nabanggit ko sa naunang thread yung sirkerong witness ni Bishop Cruz, si Richard Garcia. Aba, kinabukasan nasa news na at pinatitigil si Cruz na paimbestigahan ang jueteng.

    Isa ang ibig sabihin niyan. Aktibo na naman ang mga grupong kumikita sa ilegal na sugal. Bakit hindi nila hanapin/hulihin si Gener David e lagi naman yang nasa Crame, siya ang sinasabing bagman ni Bacalzo.

    Ellen, siya yung may alias na “Boy Tangkad” na sinasabi ni Sandra Cam na nagdadala ng jueteng payola sa Crame.

  63. chi chi

    Lalong nalintikan, si Bacalzo ang mismong nasa PNP….

  64. Sa unang hearing sa jueteng, ang daming pinangalanan nila Cam, Mayor, Riva at Garcia. Matindi yung kay Cam kasi siniguro niyang hindi mafi-filter ng mga kawatan ni Putot pag harapan na sa Senado kaya nagpa-presscon muna siya at doon unang hinayag ang mga detalye. Hindi siya natakot kahit kaliwa’t kanan ang file ng libel ni FG at Iggy dahil totoo ang alam niya. Meron pang mga desposit slips sa account ni Mosqueda pati resibo ng Isuzu DMAX pick-up.

    Ano nangyari? May nakasuhan ba?

  65. Hindi kaya may ginawang malaking pabor si Versoza para kay Pnoy noong election? — parasabayan

    I’m sure Versoza did…no way would he have gotten Pres Aquino’s “undying” loyalty if he had not done Aquino a favour. No way. These things happen; military major service commanders do it, why can’t/shouldn’t PNP chief do it? Didn’t have to be in the form of stealing votes for Aquino. Could be in the form of logistics (human and materiel) too. But the favour must have been so major major ( 🙂 ) for Aquino to show presidential gratitude (and I’m pretty sure Gloria’s operatives in Malacanang had, at some point, been aware of it but they couldn’t do anything, i.e, denounce Versoza, perhaps because they knew that if they did, Versoza might turn them in.

    The minute Versoza said that he wouldn’t allow PNP to be used or that he wouldn’t allow efforts to extend Gloria’s hold to power, I knew, he was already operating for a candidate — now it can be revealed that it was Versoza. The fellow is a smooth operator. He is, hmmm… more or less, Aquino’s Esperon!

  66. Ooops, “now it can be revealed that it was Aquino.”

  67. florry florry

    #53 – Jug”
    if anyone should go after versoza, it should not be noynoy”

    Right, Noynoy should not be the one to go after Verzosa.

    The DILG should do the job, but if Verzosa gets the DILG job he will go after “Verzosa”.

    That will be so amusing and a lot of fun….. for Noynoy and Verzosa!

  68. chi chi

    Agree, Anna. Kaya puro ngiting aso ang ibinato ni putot kay Verzosa.

  69. Tiago Tiago

    everybody’s talking about the “matuwid na daan”. just wondering where to…

  70. bayong bayong

    The PNP delegation attended the 77th Interpol General Assembly in St Petersburg. Versoza didn’t go but his wife did. What’s the business of a wife of a police officer in an Interpol conference without the husband? There’s a term for that: junket.
    hindi junket para sa akin ito, sa kapulisan ang tawag dito paniniguro baka mabukulan sa partihan.

  71. bayong bayong

    aquino at arroyo, same dog different collar.

  72. Isagani Isagani

    #58 …The government should do their job. – Ellen

    Yes, I agree. Pero kailangan may, at least, probable cause. Otherwise, kahit na lang sino puwede mag-acusa and then say, bahala na ang gobierno mag-imbistiga.

  73. luzviminda luzviminda

    Puno plus Verzosa equals JUETENG! Simple lang ang equation di ba? Si P-Nyoy pinapa-ikot ng mga tao sa kanyang paligid… Rubberstamp President!!!!!!!

  74. luzviminda luzviminda

    “Hindi kaya may ginawang malaking pabor si Versoza para kay Pnoy noong election?” -psb

    “The fellow is a smooth operator. He is, hmmm… more or less, Aquino’s Esperon!”-Anna

    Spot on guys! May mga lihim din ang kampo ni P-Nyoy na dapat protektahan nitong mga taong nag-aabang na mabigyan ng posisyon bilang payback! Matuwid na landas daw! PWE!

  75. luzviminda luzviminda

    Walang mataas na opisyal ang gustong tapusin at sugpuin ang Jueteng dahil malaking kawalan sa kanila yan. Imagine wala nang pagod, TAXFREE pa!

  76. Observer Observer

    No doubt that Noynoy is a jueteng protector.

    The only question that remains is how much is his cut? LOL

  77. NFA rice NFA rice

    @Observer #76,

    I am sure 2 million pesos is too cheap for him.

  78. gusa77 gusa77

    Let us put to a different scene the retaining appointmentee of prevoius admin.what if there are smarter than us advising him ,go retained them w/hidden agenda,for a better shows,nobody will suspected on those retainees,that thier days are coming thier head will be rolling,not from P-noy,but from the court of justices,due they are available on hand,[existence on the ground],no more E.O’s shielding them for appearances.Exterminator proceedure on trapping,terminating pest on the area,put a nice smelling chow for the predator for invitations into a middle GLUE MATS/PADS,& you’ll put a laugh on yourself,how thier eyes are teary and begging from the mess they been in to.Some had weird ideas are working,better than books.Hotels you can check in, but no checking out.

  79. parasabayan parasabayan

    Monies, jueteng or other illegal sources, do not necessarily have or had to be in Pnoys hand. His cronies could pay the beneficiaries directly, like the Inglesia ni Cristo. Do you ever wonder why this church can build their churches in even the smallest baranggay? Do yo also wonder why those supported by them always win? Not only are they not given hundreds of millions of pesos but they too benefit from the unending graces from those they have supported and won. Di ba nga pati yung mga appointees sa mga matataas na posisyon eh may blessing or padrino na nandyan sa church na yan?

  80. Monies, jueteng or other illegal sources, do not necessarily have or had to be in Pnoys hand.

    — parasabayan

    Agree!

  81. [Permit me to post this in full. This is an Inquirer report I got from a forum (not worth mentioning, baka sumikat pa.) Inquirer’s archives are not functional especially during the PDI-GMA7 tie-up]

    2 more witnesses confirm Arroyo son’s ‘jueteng’ links

    First posted 01:32pm (Mla time) June 06, 2005
    By Veronica Uy, Maila Ager
    INQ7.net

    Get INQ7 breaking news on your Smart mobile phone in the Philippines. Send INQ7 BREAKING to 386.

    (3rd UPDATE) TWO more witnesses confirmed the alleged involvement of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and Pampanga Representative Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo to “jueteng” and linked other government officials and legislators as well to the illegal numbers game.

    Demosthenes Abraham Riva, claiming to be the bagman of Mario Espinosa, presidential assistant on Bicol affairs starting February 2004, testified at the resumption of a Senate inquiry on Monday that the Malacañang official told him that “ang Unang Ginoo [the First Gentleman]” had given the blessing for “jueteng” operations to continue in Bicol.

    He also denied newspaper reports that said that he was a drug dependent.

    Riva, who said Espinosa was his neighbor in Legaspi City, said he went to the National Bureau of Investigation with his testimony last year but decided to go public due to the bishop, referring to Dagupan-Lingayen Catholic Archbishop Oscar Cruz who brought him and the other “jueteng” witnesses to the Senate. Richard Garcia, who introduced himself as a bagman for Police Colonel Pierre Bugsit, quoted the officer as saying that it was the young Arroyo, referred to as the “Lion King,” who sent them to Central Luzon.

    “Wala nang problema, si Lion King, sa pagkakaalam ko ay ating gobernador Mikey Arroyo, ang nagpadala sa atin dito [We have no more problems. It was ‘Lion King,’ our governor Mikey Arroyo, who sent us here],” Garcia said after Bugsit was transferred to Central Luzon from Bicol.

    Garcia also quoted Colonel Bienvenido Latag, Camarines Sur police director, as saying that an “Attorney Arroyo” had asked that “jueteng” operations in the province continue.

    He said Latag and Colonel Rene Gumban, Latag’s provincial intelligence officer, were subsequently relieved.

    Police Director General Arturo Lomibao, who was present at the second hearing, confirmed that Latag was relieved as an administrative measure due to allegations that the colonel was involved in “jueteng.”

    Garcia said he testified because “hindi ko na masikmura ang conspiracy at ang pagbababoy sa ating kapulisan [I could not stomach the conspiracy and the manner in which our policemen are being debased].” He said local officials used the police bureaucracy as “backbone” for the popular illegal numbers game.

    In his “plantilla” (list) of protection money, Garcia said Espinosa received 50,000 pesos a month; Rene Maglanque, 150,000 pesos a month; and an official of the Department of Interior and Local Government, 25,000 a week.

    Garcia, who requested for and was given the same immunity given by the Senate to self-confessed “jueteng” operator Wilfredo Mayor, also pointed to the Villafuertes of Camarines Sur (former Governor and now Congressman Luis Villafuerte, his son and Governor Luis Raymond “Elrey,” and another son, Bong) as beneficiaries of the illegal numbers game.

    He said Bong was the “nacional” operator for the province, while an Art Katigbak was Bong’s alleged “emissary.”

    Congressman Villafuerte and Negros Occidental Representative Ignacio Arroyo denied their involvement in separate statements.

    “I don’t care about our inter-parliamentary courtesy. I have nothing to hide,” Villafuerte told INQ7.net after he and his sons were tagged as protectors of the illegal numbers game in their province.

    “I am available for any question that the Senate will ask me. But I prefer that an independent commission probe this issue so that the Senate could go back to work,” Negros Occidental Representative Ignacio Arroyo said in a separate interview amid claims in the same inquiry that he had a hand in the appointments of police officials in his area so that he could collect “jueteng” proceeds.

    Villafuerte suspects that Garcia’s testimony is his detractors’ means of getting back following his exposé on the alleged string of criminal cases against Mayor.

    “I’ve never heard of his [Garcia] name. I’ve never talked to him about anything. This is just part of their scheme to get back at me,” he said.

    Villafuerte said he would file charges against his accuser. “This is a pattern of a smear campaign and I’m not going to tolerate it.”

    “I’ve never had influence in the appointments of police officials. This is just part of destabilization efforts,” Arroyo said.

    “I feel bad that our names are being dragged without any reason, just because our surname is Arroyo. Maybe if I’m not [an] Arroyo, I would have not been dragged into this controversy,” he said.

    In his testimony detailing his participation in “jueteng” in Bicol, Central Luzon, Central Mindanao, and Southern Mindanao, Garcia also implicated Governors Raul Lee of Sorsogon; a congressman Solis of Sorsogon; Colonel Mel Mabilin, regional intelligence officer for Metro Manila when NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco was regional director of Metro Manila; a certain Rongavilla, Camarines Sur police director; Arnie de los Santos, Sorsogon police director; one Donato Orio; and Wilberto Mandit.

    He said the operators could not get “Congressman Escudero.” He did not elaborate.

    Garcia also named the Sorsogon jueteng “bangka” as Leony Lim, Alvin Liao, Boy Guban, and Igli of Castilla town.

    He named the following bagmen as Gener “Boy Tangkad” David getting one million pesos a month for Camp Crame; a Boyong, 110,000 pesos a week for Pampanga and Bulacan; a Monte 60,000 pesos a week for Nueva Ecija; an Ichi for Olongapo; a Peping and Hapon 38,000 pesos a week for Zambales; and a Mundo 40,000 pesos a week for Tarlac.

    He named Edwin “Vertex” Romero as “godfather” and “lord of lords” of illegal gambling in Region 12. He gave out the names and the cell phone numbers of the “loteng bangka-nacional” in Region 12 and in Bicol.

    At the start of Monday’s hearing at the Senate, Rene Maglanque and Arturo Naguit denied accusations by Mayor, the first “jueteng” witness, who testified last week on their alleged involvement in the illegal numbers game.

    Naguit, former vice mayor of Minalin town, Pampanga and close associate of the young Arroyo, accused Mayor of lying.

    Mayor alleged that Naguit was the bagman of the young Arroyo and received 600,000 pesos a month.

    He claimed he, Naguit, and Maglanque met at the Hotel Rembrandt in Quezon City where he was informed that Congressman Arroyo had given the go-signal for him to operate in Baguio City and the rest of Benguet province.

    Mayor also claimed to have met Naguit at the Holiday Inn and gave him 150,000 pesos for Arroyo’s alleged trip to Hong Kong.

    Mayor added that there were times when his “jueteng” administrators, whom he identified as Boy Bata and Fernando Lumagda, gave Naguit his 600,000-peso monthly payola.

    On the questioning of Senator Ramon Revilla Jr., Mayor reiterated his previous statement.

    Garcia and Mayor admitted knowing each other — Garcia as bagman for one General Tor, referring to Rodolfo Tor, a former police commander in Bicol, and Mayor as a “nacional” administrator and “bangka” in Bicol.

    Senator Manuel Villar, head of the Senate committee on public order and illegal drugs, said that while the names of First Gentleman and his son were mentioned again in connection with “jueteng,” no direct testimony had been made against them.

    Members of the joint Senate committee agreed to meet again on Thursday and Friday, after Congress goes on recess.

    Villar said the hearings would be held every other day thereafter, until the issue was resolved.

  82. Talaga nga bang mauuna pa si Donald Tsai at mga opisyales sa Hongkong at Beijing kaysa kina JP-Enrile, Congressman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Senator BongBong Marcos sa pagbasa duon sa report?

  83. Observer Observer

    Truth hurts ain’t it?

    The Tribune current issue for September 20, 2009 is not showing on their website. On other times, you cannot access their website links. These had been going on too many times already. I am starting to think that the Tribune’s website had been sabotaged by one of its employees for financial consideration.

    Anyway, I have other ways of getting to it.

    Why Pnoy gave the report first to China? Here is the current issue of Tribune, Sept. 20, 2010:

    http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100920hed1.html

  84. Observer Observer

    The Tribune current issue for September 20, 2010…..

Comments are closed.