Jueteng consultation on in Iloilo

By Florence F. Hibionada 

Iloilo's 1,721 barangays in the province will officially hear out the arguments for and against the legalization of jueteng and other number games.

This, following the communication sent to Board Member Angelo Briones, president of the provincial Liga ng mga Barangay from Representative Mayo Almario, chair of the House Committee on Games and Amusement Board.

The move is an offshoot of House Bill No. 1656, An Act regulating the Philippine Lottery where jueteng and similar number games will eventually be legalized. Representative Almario as Committee chair aims to get the consensus of barangay folks throughout the country reason why Briones said, he will push for the said consultation.

Yet as it is, Briones told The News Today, his personal stand is against jueteng and all forms of gambling more so for its legalization. The consensus will be pushed though, so as to get a clearer and official picture of the general sentiments of Iloilo barangays.

Proponents of the jueteng legalization argues that millions of Filipinos will avail of jobs generated by this move. It is also expected to eliminate corruption in the local level wherein the number games predominantly exists with shared revenues to government agencies concerned.

However oppositors decry the attempt saying jueteng and gambling legalization will destroy the moral fiber of this country. Objections are also posed with the argument that such will not stop nor deter any other number games to proliferate in the countryside.

Briones for his part said his objection is anchored on the fact that gambling and jueteng per se being a game of chance will worsen the plight of ordinary Filipinos barely able to survive the high cost of living. And it will just further the laziness of the people, he added.

Government's campaign against illegal gambling remains a central battlecry for local chief executives faced with random operations and thriving existence of bettors and operators. The police has since declared though of waning illegal gambling incidents saying the now and then resurgence in Iloilo towns and corresponding arrests are "minimal."