DAGUPAN CITY-“I don’t believe Gov. Espino is behind the jueteng operation in Pangasinan.”
This was the statement of newly-elected President of the Mayors League of Pangasinan, Bugallon Mayor Ricardo Orduna in defense of Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. , who was linked to the operations of jueteng in the province by retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz during the press conference held at Dagupan Village Inn, here last September 21.
Orduña said he was disappointed at the accusation against the governor whom he portrayed as father of transformation in Pangasinan, citing the governor’s numerous achievements in his few years as the chief executive of the province.
“Napakabigat ng akusasyon nila kay Governor Espino na siya mismo ang nagpapatakbo ng jueteng sa Pangasinan, kawawa naman ang governor na inaakusahan ng wala namang sapat na basehan,” he added.
Lingayen Mayor Ernesto “Jonas” Castañeda, who also lamented the accusation against the governor, said, “since time immemorial, wala pa kami ni Governor Espino sa mga posisyon namin ngayon, meron na yang illegal acitivity na yan, yang jueteng. Sinisiraan nila yung tao e wala namang hinangad kundi ang progreso ng Pangasinan.”
As this developed, Orduña challenged the Catholic Church to do their part in curbing the menace.
“They should join the campaign against this illegal gambling and not putting all the blame on the government,” he said.
“Ang sinasabi ko sa simbahan, makisama sila, parang si Bishop Oscar Cruz, naging Bishop siya kahit sila may responsibilidad, sabihan nila yung kanilang mga parishioners na huwag ng tangkilikin yan dahil labag sa moral values natin, para makita din na may share ang simbahan”
Orduña urged his colleagues and provincemates to stop patronizing jueteng but instead help stamp it out in their respective localities.
“Problema natin lahat ito,” he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment