CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Central Luzon police director Chief Supt. Leon Nilo de la Cruz yesterday challenged Gov. Eddie Panlilio to work out for the scrapping of Small Town Lottery (STL) franchises in Pampanga so as to resolve finally the issue of whether they are fronts for illegal “jueteng” operations.
In an interview with Punto, De la Cruz said the police force under him will not raid STL operations based merely on Panlilio’s allegations that they are jueteng fronts for fear of legal suits that could later arise.
“We can not clamp down on STL operations which are legal and with legitimate franchises from the PCSO (Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office). Perhaps he should first have the franchises scrapped then we will follow,” De la Cruz said.
Panlilio had sought the relief of Senior Supt. Keith Singian who was replaced as Pampanga police officer-in-charge last Tuesday by Senior Supt. Gil Lebin whose appointment, however, was also protested by the governor.
Panlilio said Singian failed to stop jueteng operations in this province, even as he claimed that Lebin’s appointment was lobbied for by the Pampanga Mayors’ League (PML) headed by Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda. Dennis is the son of Rodolfo “Bong” Pineda who was tagged as a big time jueteng lord during the Senate impeachment trial against former Pres. Estrada.
The governor, who stressed he wanted a “morally upright” provincial police director, also said presidential son Rep. Mikey Arroyo had lobbied for Lebin.
De la Cruz denied this, saying that since he was appointed regional director of the police last Nov. 18, Arroyo had never interfered in police appointments.
“Our communication since then has been limited. Two instances were through cell phone when he congratulated me upon my appointment to Central Luzon, and when he greeted me Merry Christmas, and then once at a social function. In those instances, he never mentioned anything about police appointments,” he said.
While Panlilio had also protested Lebin’s appointment, De la Cruz expressed hope that the governor would change his mind once he gets acquainted with his new provincial police director.
De la Cruz said, however, that Lebin was appointed merely officer-in-charge and that he intends to come out with a list of three nominees to be presented to Panlilio.
He noted, however, that the recommendees of Panlilio could not be included, as they are stationed outside Central Luzon.
Last Monday, Panlilio issued a statement saying that the influence of gambling lords has continued to penetrate politics, the government and even the church.
He accused the police of “subverting the rule of law” by ignoring his powers to choose the police director in Pampanga.
In an interview with Punto, De la Cruz said the police force under him will not raid STL operations based merely on Panlilio’s allegations that they are jueteng fronts for fear of legal suits that could later arise.
“We can not clamp down on STL operations which are legal and with legitimate franchises from the PCSO (Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office). Perhaps he should first have the franchises scrapped then we will follow,” De la Cruz said.
Panlilio had sought the relief of Senior Supt. Keith Singian who was replaced as Pampanga police officer-in-charge last Tuesday by Senior Supt. Gil Lebin whose appointment, however, was also protested by the governor.
Panlilio said Singian failed to stop jueteng operations in this province, even as he claimed that Lebin’s appointment was lobbied for by the Pampanga Mayors’ League (PML) headed by Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda. Dennis is the son of Rodolfo “Bong” Pineda who was tagged as a big time jueteng lord during the Senate impeachment trial against former Pres. Estrada.
The governor, who stressed he wanted a “morally upright” provincial police director, also said presidential son Rep. Mikey Arroyo had lobbied for Lebin.
De la Cruz denied this, saying that since he was appointed regional director of the police last Nov. 18, Arroyo had never interfered in police appointments.
“Our communication since then has been limited. Two instances were through cell phone when he congratulated me upon my appointment to Central Luzon, and when he greeted me Merry Christmas, and then once at a social function. In those instances, he never mentioned anything about police appointments,” he said.
While Panlilio had also protested Lebin’s appointment, De la Cruz expressed hope that the governor would change his mind once he gets acquainted with his new provincial police director.
De la Cruz said, however, that Lebin was appointed merely officer-in-charge and that he intends to come out with a list of three nominees to be presented to Panlilio.
He noted, however, that the recommendees of Panlilio could not be included, as they are stationed outside Central Luzon.
Last Monday, Panlilio issued a statement saying that the influence of gambling lords has continued to penetrate politics, the government and even the church.
He accused the police of “subverting the rule of law” by ignoring his powers to choose the police director in Pampanga.
