Mike Arroyo pursues ancestor’s legacy for jueteng
September 25, 2010 Leave a comment
I’m getting information that Eddie Gonzales, identified as a jueteng lord in Quezon province, is all set to obtain a franchise to operate Small Town Lottery in Iloilo province. This was made possible through the help of his patron, former FG Mike Arroyo. Gonzales managed to sweep aside local competitors after Arroyo called Iloilo governor Arthur Defensor Sr. to let him get the franchise. It will be a front for jueteng, and the rewards for the capitol will be generous. Not too many people know that Arroyo isn’t new to jueteng. His great grand father was an early jueteng operator in Iloilo province in the 1920s. In fact, the involvement of then Gov. Mariano Arroyo in jueteng became a major scandal here.
The impending entry of Eddie Gonzales into the STL operations in Iloilo province is just a disguise for the expanded jueteng operations that have already been cooked at the capitol. Defensor used his clout to place a police officer who served as Mikey Arroyo’s enforcer in jueteng-dominated Pampanga as provincial director. The stage has been set. Only the Senate blue ribbon inquiry into the jueteng scandal forced them to suspend operations. But once the issue settles down, it is expected that the Arroyo/Gonzales/Defensor combine will exploit the virtually untapped market in Iloilo province.