U-Sec. Rico Puno Roasted in the Senate

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chaired by Sen. Teofisto Guingona III roasted Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno in the ongoing  jueteng  hearing. Puno and retired National Police Chief Jesus Verzosa were accused by Archbishop emeritus Oscar Cruz as recipients of the illegal game’s payola to which the two vehemently denied.

Others mentioned by Cruz as receiving payola are Pampanga Gov. Baby Pineda, Paul Dy of Isabela, retired General Eugene Martin and Mayor Mauricio Domogan of Baguio City, Danny Soriano of Cagayan, Governor Amado Espino in Pangasinan, and Boy Jalandoni of Bacolod.

Puno, evasive and rattled when pressed to name the identities of alleged jueteng operators currently under government surveillance, was reproached by Senate Pres. Juan Ponce Enrile. Urging him to come out clean on what he knows about jueteng operations and his involvement in the illegal game, Puno gave unbelievable answers like he was not able to remember the names of friends and family members who came to his office because of the high volume of people visiting his office.

Citing a Senate rule, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada reminded the embattled Puno that he could be cited with contempt if he lies before the Senate.

Pressed further to name names, the Interior Undersecretary had a tight lip saying that since there is an ongoing investigation of the case which put some government officials under surveillance, Puno preferred to keep silent so as not to influence the ongoing investigation.

Enrile also warned Puno that as a lawyer, the Senate president said that he is trained to catch one lying when cross-examined.

One does not need a Law or a Psychology degree to appraise Mr. Puno’s appearance and answers in the hearing before saying that he was lying to protect himself and others involved in jueteng.

Some of the senators voiced frustration on the inability of the government to totally eradicate the illegal game. Sen. Enrile asked why jueteng should not be legalized instead to finally end discussions on the issue. Cruz said that it is easy to stop the game. The retired prelate underscored that all that is needed is a political will on the part of a provincial officials and the provincial police to say “NO” to the illegal game in their jurisdictions.

Just like in a soap opera, the story of jueteng is getting more interesting. Let us see how it will end. -30-
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