POLL: 81% THINK GMA KIN INTO JUETENG PAYOFFS
MANILA, August 9, 2005 (STAR) By Marichu Villanueva - More Filipinos believe that some members of President Arroyo’s family may be receiving payoffs from illegal gambling syndicates, according to a public opinion poll.A noncommissioned survey by pollster Pulse Asia showed that close to 81 percent of Filipinos believe that some members of Mrs. Arroyo’s family are on the payroll of jueteng operators, a slight increase from the 78 percent reported in Pulse Asia’s June survey.
The opinion is shared by most people across the country’s major geographic areas — from 62 percent in the Visayas to 87 percent in Metro Manila and Mindanao — and socio-economic classes.
The number of people who did not believe the bribery allegations declined from 19 percent in June to 16 percent last month. This sentiment is most notable in the Visayas — at 34 percent — where Mrs. Arroyo continues to have the highest approval and trust ratings.
Three percent remained undecided, according to the survey, the same as in June.
The July 2-14 Pulse Asia survey interviewed 1,200 people nationwide and had an margin of error of error of plus or minus six percentage points.
It also noted that 71 percent share the belief that many government officials are on the payroll of illegal gambling syndicates, an increase from 64 percent recorded in June.
Only four percent believe otherwise while the remaining 24 percent were undecided, a decline from 31 percent in the previous poll.
When asked whether jueteng should be legalized, 54 percent of poll respondents disagreed, saying it would make matters worse. Only a fourth or 26 percent agreed that it would be better to legalize the small-town lotteries while 20 percent were undecided.
Among the Philippines’ major areas, Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon — with 31 and 34 percent, respectively — saw the highest number of people who believed that jueteng should be legalized.
Asked their reasons for wanting jueteng legalized, 38 percent said the government would benefit from the taxes collected from jueteng operators.
Twenty-three percent said jueteng should be legalized to put a stop to the bribery of officials while eight percent said jueteng was impossible to eradicate. Only four percent said there was nothing wrong or immoral with jueteng.
A third of poll respondents, or 34 percent, said they prefer the state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. to run jueteng once it is legalized.
Another option favored by 24 percent is for local government units to hold the lotteries.
The issue of politicians’ alleged involvement in the extremely lucrative jueteng racket has haunted several presidential administrations.
President Arroyo first took office in 2001 after her predecessor, former President Joseph Estrada, was toppled by a military-backed popular uprising spawned by accusations that he was profiting from jueteng operations.
Despite repeated government crackdowns, the illegal lotteries continue to thrive because local officials and the police reportedly take bribes and turn a blind eye.
Also, politicians are widely believed to be receiving huge political campaign donations from illegal gambling barons during elections.
Proposals to legalize jueteng in the past were shot down mainly because of opposition from the influential Roman Catholic Church, which counts 80 percent of Filipinos as its flock.
Proponents say it should be legalized because it is impossible to eradicate and the government could earn taxes from it. They also say it is hypocritical of the government to stamp out jueteng while it operates casinos and lotteries.
Critics say legalizing jueteng promotes a "culture of gambling."
Mrs. Arroyo’s husband, eldest son and brother-in-law were accused last month of being on the jueteng payroll by self-confessed bagwoman Sandra Cam. The Senate is currently conducting an inquiry into the bribery accusations.
Mrs. Arroyo’s son, Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, and brother-in-law, Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio Arroyo, have sued Cam for libel.
Mrs. Arroyo herself is also battling allegations hurled by former presidential staffer Michaelangelo Zuce that she had met with several election officials in her Quezon City house in early 2004 and that the wife of suspected jueteng boss Rodolfo Pineda distributed bribes to them in Mrs. Arroyo’s presence.
Zuce claimed that Mrs. Arroyo asked them for help in last year’s presidential election.
The bribery allegations have compounded opposition accusations that Mrs. Arroyo cheated her way to victory in the May 2004 race.
The poll fraud allegations erupted last month after the opposition released audio recordings of alleged phone conversations between Mrs. Arroyo and an election official discussing ways to ensure her victory.
Mrs. Arroyo had admitted phoning an election official during the vote count but denies rigging the election result. She has rejected opposition calls for her resignation but has welcomed an impeachment complaint to clear her name.
Opposition lawmakers filed a complaint last month in the House of Representatives, accusing her of betraying public trust.
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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