Singson, Atong Ang deny role in jueteng operations

Two key actors in the jueteng scandal named in exposes by former Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago have denied their involvement in the illegal numbers game. In a newscast by GMA News’ “24 Oras", Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit" Singson blasted Santiago and challenged her to have everyone investigated — including her husband, former Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Narciso Santiago — for their alleged role in the prevalence of jueteng. "Ipaimbestiga niya lahat. Kasi mga kalaban niya lang yata ang pinaiimbestigahan, yung mga kakampi niya hindi. Ipaimbestiga niya lahat pati asawa niya ipaimbestiga," Singson said. (She should have everyone investigated. It seems she wants only her enemies investigated, but not her allies. Have everyone investigated, including her husband.)
He said Sen. Santiago’s husband also has “interests" in jueteng. In the same interview, the Ilocos Sur governor denied his involvement in the numbers game, adding that the senator has yet to present her evidence. "Hindi ako jueteng lord, hindi ako operator. Nagugulo na naman ang utak ni senador sa mga sinasabi niya. Hindi maganda ang mga sinasabi niya na lalabas, tapos walang ebidensya," Singson said. (I am neither jueteng lord nor operator. The senator’s mind is getting messed up again. She says things in public that are derogatory, then it turns out there’s no evidence.) Ang: I’m just a game designer In another interview also by “24 Oras", gaming consultant Charlie “Atong" Ang likewise belied accusations pointing to his involvement in jueteng, saying he is merely an architect of games to replace jueteng with. "I think mali yung binigay sa kanya diyan. Kasi, maski simula pa noong araw, maski sinong PNP, walang makapagsasabi na nag-o-operate ako ng jueteng," Ang maintained. (I think she’s been fed wrong info, because ever since, no police could state that I’m a jueteng operator.)
Ang, however, admitted to meeting with Archbishop Cruz, but said it was only to clarify to the latter that he has never been involved in jueteng even once. “Ipinaliwanag ko lang na hindi ako nagjue-jueteng maski kailan, maski isang beses. Nagde-design ako ng games (I just explained to him that I have never engaged in jueteng even once. I only design games)," explained Ang. Ang, a close friend of Estrada and who reportedly earns P15 million everyday from jueteng payoffs, was a consultant for the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. during Estrada’s term. On the other hand, Singson was the star witness in the “Juetengate" scandal which signaled the downfall of ousted President Joseph Estrada, his former friend. As an inside-man-turned-witness, Singson detailed how Estrada received and laundered jueteng money. Singson and Ang were among those named by Santiago in her privilege speech at the Senate on Wednesday. (See: Miriam: DILG, PNP heads get annual P300M from jueteng)—Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMANews.TV