Palace refutes NPC claim of politics in jueteng mess

December 16, 2012 5:07pm

Malacañang on Sunday refuted the allegation of the Nationalist People’s Coalition that it is politically harassing Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino Jr. over his alleged links to the illegal but popular numbers game jueteng.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Espino should instead answer the allegations made against him, before the proper forum.

“As we have said and mentioned yesterday [Saturday], politics is not involved when it comes to this particular case of Gov. Espino. We encourage Gov. Espino to answer the charges in the proper forum,” she said on government-run dzRB radio.

On Saturday, the NPC accused the Aquino administration of harassing Espino in anticipation of the 2013 elections. Espino had denied allegations linking him to jueteng.

NPC provincial chairman and former Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco was quoted in a report in the Philippine Daily Inquirer that the claims linking Espino to jueteng were made after a survey showed the ruling Liberal Party’s candidate will not win against Espino.

Espino is reportedly seeking a third and last term against Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza, the LP’s gubernatorial bet. — LBG, GMA News