Jueteng operators in Metro Manila and Central Luzon have become so bold they operate even in public schools, a retired archbishop and anti-gambling crusader claimed this week.

 

Retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz said this is the case in at least four schools in Central Luzon, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said.

 

Cruz was quoted in the CBCP news site as saying jueteng collectors also "invaded" one public school in Metro Manila. He did not name the schools.

 

“The students are being wooed to bet their little allowance. I find this irritating,” Cruz said in an article posted early Wednesday on the CBCP news site.

 

He said the students could afford to bet on jueteng since the minimum bet is only between P10 to P20. Jueteng is an illegal but popular numbers game.

 

Earlier, Cruz said he had received death threats because of his recent exposes against jueteng, which he said nets daily collections of some P55 million.

 

The prelate chided President Benigno Aquino III anew for saying the fight against jueteng is not his administration’s priority.

 

“Is this what they (administration) mean by straight path? I’m confused, is jueteng exempted from this straight path?” he said. — ELR, GMA News