‘I HOPE IT’S FOR REAL THIS TIME,’ REMULLA

SAYS ON NEW JUETENG CRACKDOWN

House Minority Floor Leader Gilbert Remulla today lauded the Department of Interior and Local Government for its renewed campaign against illegal gambling, particularly the numbers game “jueteng” but said law enforcement authorities should make sure that this new crackdown  is “ now for real.”

 Remulla noted that the DILG and the Philippine National Police have made repeated commitments in the past to use the full force of the law to neutralize “jueteng” but it seems that their efforts failed to succeed for some strange reasons.

          He said that he is backing the DILG’s move to hold local government executives and police officials accountable if it is proven that “jueteng” and other forms of illegal gambling continue to exist in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

          Remulla added that he would fully support a piece of legislation that would give more teeth to laws against illegal gambling such as the imposition of stiffer penalties to those who are convicted of violating the anti-gambling law.

          In fact, Remulla said that he has a pending bill which seeks to impose tougher punishment for those who would be caught and convicted for illegal gambling.

              Under Remulla’s House Bill 1581,  a maintainer of any form of illegal gambling “ shall be punished by imprisonment of ten (10) years and a fine not less than one million pesos (P1,000,000).” Bookies and illegal gambling personnel on the other hand can be slapped with five years imprisonment  and a fine not less than P100,000 but not more than P500,000.

              Under  existing anti-gambling laws particularly  PD 1602, the maximum penalty is only prison mayor in its medium term ( 6  to 12 years) or a fine of only P,6000.

          “ I am all the way in supporting this renewed crackdown against jueteng and other forms of illegal gambling. I just  hope that it is for real this time and not just another lip service on the part of the DILG and the PNP, “ Remulla said.

          The Cavite solon said there are only two ways to deal with the continued proliferation of  illegal gambling in the country: Make sure that it is stopped once and for all or  legalize it to generate revenue for the government.

          “ Our government should really make sure that illegal gambling is nipped in the bud. But if the government can’t make any assurance that illegal gambling operations are gone for good, I think that we should consider discussions for  its legalization,” Remulla said.

          Remulla said that the DILG should show it’s resolve in its bid to curb illegal gambling operations by arresting and successfully prosecuting big time gambling lords such as Rodolfo “Bong” Pineda, who is a “kumpare” of President Arroyo.

          The neophyte solon has revealed that Pineda’s illegal gambling operation is expanding rapidly under the Arroyo administration.