Note on the Jueteng and Drug Networks
by Jose Maria Sison
NDFP Chief Political Consultant
July 4, 2019

Since several decades ago, the drug problem has spread through the jueteng networks under the protection of governors and generals. The drug and jueteng networks have become usually concurrent.

Now, Duterte, his dynasty and his national, regional, provincial and municipal agents lord over and rake in money from both the jueteng and drug networks.

It is absurd that Duterte’s top butcher Bato is now offering to the public a false choice between jueteng and drugs. This means that the Duterte ruling clique is maintaining the concurrent use of the drug and jueteng networks.

=====================================================

‘Jueteng’ a lesser evil compared to drugs: Dela Rosa
Dharel Placido, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jul 04 2019 03:54 PM
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/04/19/jueteng-a-lesser-evil-compared-to-drugs-dela-rosa

MANILA – Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Thursday said “jueteng” is a lesser evil compared to the illegal drug trade, as he defended President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to go easy on the illegal numbers game.

Duterte last week said he might as well let jueteng operations continue because many families depend on it to put food on the table.

Dela Rosa echoed Duterte’s sentiment, saying some jueteng operators might just turn to the illegal drug trade if the government cracks down on the popular form of illegal gambling.

“Alam mo si Presidente makipag-compromise sa lesser evil,” Dela Rosa said in a forum at the Senate.

(The President just wants to reach a compromise by dealing with the lesser evil.)

“Sa illegal gambling maraming nabubuhay. Sa drugs, maraming namamatay.”

(In illegal gambling, many get to have livelihood. In drugs, people die.)

In 2017, self-confessed Davao Death Squad leader Arturo Lascañas claimed Duterte tolerated the conduct of illegal numbers game “Last Two” during his stint as Davao City mayor.

Duterte was mayor of the southern city for over 2 decades.