Anti-jueteng movement now has 'spies' in govt offices

MANILA, Philippines - An anti-jueteng movement led by a senior Catholic bishop hinted Monday to have gained ground against its fight against the illegal numbers game, after the recruitment of "spies" in government offices. Lingayen-Dagupan archbishop Oscar Cruz said they have won over converts to their cause among the ranks of government officials in municipal and city halls. "Ngayon nakikita namin gumaganda ang aming position. Ang aming kasama sa jueteng ang mismong sa kapitolyo at munisipyo kaya mas sigurado ang aming datos [We are now in a better position. Our allies against jueteng now include people inside the provincial capitols and municipal halls, to help us verify information on jueteng operations]," he said in an interview on dwIZ radio. Cruz, who heads the Krusadang Bayan Laban sa Jueteng (KBLJ), earlier lamented the illegal lottery game had intensified especially because operators were raising funds to support bets in the 2010 polls. But he said the KBLJ's position is now more encouraging because it no longer has to rely solely on priests, nuns and religious workers. "Ngayon pumasok na mismong bakuran ng public officials para malaman namin kung sino-sino [Now we have eyes and ears in the backyards of public officials so we will know who among them are involved in jueteng]," he said. - GMANews.TV