S i g n i s I n d i a

MANILA, July 10, 2010— The appointment of a new Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary to the Aquino administration hopes to boost the campaign against jueteng, an illegal numbers game.

Anti-gambling crusader Archbishop Oscar Cruz said the new DILG chief is “the right man” for the job because he is “competent and effective” in public service.

Cruz is referring to former Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo whom President Benigno Aquino III yesterday appointed to the head the agency.

“Our advocacy against jueteng has valuable ally in his person and conviction,” Cruz said. “He’s a no-nonsense executive in terms of honesty and integrity.”

Robredo was the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Government Service back in 2000. He was also cited in 1999 by Asiaweek for transforming Naga City.

Robredo earlier said the Aquino administration would not tolerate the conduct of jueteng, not only because it’s illegal, “but it develops a culture of mendicancy and corruption among our constituents as well as government officials.”

The underground multi-million-peso jueteng operations have for years been the major source of revenue for corrupt local politicians. (Roy Lagarde/CBCPNews)