Chavit: Lacson tried to centralize jueteng payoffs

Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit" Singson on Thursday said Senator Panfilo Lacson tried to centralize the collection of payoffs for the numbers racket jueteng when he was Philippine National Police chief. Singson said Lacson tried to prevent local police chiefs from accepting jueteng payoffs. “Sabi ni Lacson napupunta ang loyalty ng mga hepe sa mga jueteng lord kaya gusto niya i-centralize," Singson said. Lacson, Singson said, only wanted top police officers to share the payoffs. The plan did not push through after a people power revolt ousted president Joseph Estrada from power. Lacson admitted Estrada received jueteng payoffs, even funneling some of the money to the Muslim Youth Foundation, a charity group sponsored by Estrada. Singson, however, said the foundation was a money-laundering front. –GMANews.TV