SAN PEDRO, Laguna, Philippines – A village official named as one of the operators of “jueteng” (illegal numbers game) in Laguna is up for reelection in the Barangay-Sangguniang Kabataan elections in October, according to his younger brother.
Gener Amante, 62, is currently the president of the Association of Barangay Captains in San Pablo City and is seeking reelection in Barangay (village) San Jose. He is also the eldest brother of incumbent and long-time San Pablo City Mayor Vicente Amante.
At a House hearing on Monday, jueteng whistleblower Sandra Cam listed the names of Gener Amante and a certain Totoy Haruta as suspected jueteng operators in Laguna.
Gener’s younger brother, Dante, 55, said in a phone interview that he could not comment on his elder brother’s activities.
Dante said he was unaware of Cam’s allegations against his brother, saying he hasn’t seen Gener because he spends most of his time in Sta. Cruz, the capital town of Laguna.
“It is best that he personally answer those questions,” said Dante.
Dante was recently elected president of the Laguna chapter of the Philippine Councilors League.
In August, Laguna 3rd District Rep. Maria Evita Arago wrote Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo to conduct a thorough investigation on the proliferation of jueteng in the province.
“This representation is writing to your good office on behalf of our constituents in the 3rd district of Laguna regarding the renewed and active operation of jueteng in the district, more particularly in the city of San Pablo, as reported by our community leaders and concerned citizens from various barangays,” Arago’s letter read.
Sources in the local government and police also named the elder Amante as a jueteng financier, but claimed that the mayor had distanced himself from his brother’s illegal activities.
“He would most likely refuse to take calls right now for security reasons because we are nearing the elections,” Dante said when the Inquirer sought his help to arrange an interview with Gener.
Efforts to obtain a statement from Mayor Amante, through his aides, also proved futile.
source : http://politics.inquirer.net/politics/view/20100930-295235/Alleged-Laguna-jueteng-operator-seeking-reelection-in-barangay-polls
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