Manila Jueteng Problem And The City's Rampant Illegal Gambling Activities

Illegal gambling is still rampant in this poverty-stricken city.The Manila Jueteng Problem has once again resurfaced as apparent in the arrests of several people involved in the said illegal form of gambling. Manila mayor Alfredo Lim along MPD director Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay vowed that they will rid the city of illegal jueteng operators.Instead, there are intelligence reports that illegal jueteng operators are gradually resuming their activities in the city.

The recent arrests of a number of people are clear evidences that the once eradicated Manila Jueteng Problem is still thriving. One of the main reasons why this illegal gambling problem has resurfaced is that police officers and city officials are involved in this trade. This illegal numbers game is believed to possess the blessing of unscrupulous police and city hall officials. In return for the protection extended, these protectors of jueteng are bribed with a portion of the profits generated from this illegal activity.

The inability of the police force to bring these people involved in Jueteng has further aggravated the Manila Jueteng Problem. Many people who are engaged in this illegal activity were able to evade arrests due to the influence of higher police officials and city hall personnel including the Mayor of Manila. Moreover, jueteng operators in the city have developed a way to avoid arresting police officials.Investigations revealed that jueteng lords in the city operate in a 'kangaroo' style and transfer from one place to another to avoid detection.

Jueteng operators in the city have also found a sense of resiliency in how to cover up their illegal operations.To elude and mislead the city's law enforcers, these jueteng collectors are pretending that they are soliciting bets for the government-sponsored EZ-2 lotto.Jueteng is like EZ-2 which is a legal numbers game launched by the government through the PCSO. Jueteng and EZ-2 are both using a winning two-number combination where bettors place their bets.

The only difference between the two is that jueteng is drawn secretly and exists as an underground transaction.It is believed that the winning combination in jueteng is handpicked by the operator. Jueteng operators usually pick choose combinations with fewer bets to accumulate bigger profits.Meanwhile, EZ-2 is legal and drawn live on TV.

Unless the city government under Mayor Alfredo Lim and Manila Police Department admit and end their involvement in this kind of illegal activity; the Manila Jueteng Problem will remain unanswered.If Mayor Lim and Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay are serious in eradicating this kind of illegal activity in the city, their action should begin within their ranks.They should be hunting down protectors and big time jueteng lords instead of arresting small bet collectors.Moreover, the city government must also look into the bigger picture and address the real cause why this illegal numbers game even exists.

There are many reasons why the Manila jueteng problem has once again resurfaced as apparent in the arrests of several people involved in the said illegal form of gambling. The reported involvement of police and city halls officials in the illegal activity has made it impossible to address this problem. Moreover, the inability of the police force and Mayor of Manila Alfredo Lim to bring those people involved in Jueteng has further aggravated the problem.

-Julius Arante

Alfredo Lim's Dark Side Revealed

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim has long been regarded as the city's version of John Wayne, Django Kojak and Dirty Harry. The former Western Police District (WPD) head and former Director of the NBI has been endowed with countless accolades and recognition for what he was able to achieve during his stint as police officer.The media has portrayed Lim as a no-nonsense, honest to goodness police officer. Moreover, Lim is now regarded as a hero of Manila and recognized for his courage and devotion to duty for his beloved city.

It is a sad reality that many people have believed these kinds of stories that were created and written by Alfredo Lim for his own personal gain.Lim has had success his manipulation of the media which has helped him in building an outstanding reputation as a former police officer. Many people were misled into believing that Manila's most outstanding policeman's rise to power is a product of years of dedication and hard work.The real story behind this fancied Manila Mayor and former MPD chief remains untold which is part of the reason why he still enjoys popularity and recognition among Manilenos.

Not too many people are aware of the dark side of Mayor Lim due to his constant manipulation of the media during his tenure in the MPD. Lim's well-documented exploits and heroics were fictions written by his media friends. With the help of the media sympathetic to him, Alfredo Lim's dark side were effectively hidden and remained unexposed for many years.Whereas, the true stories about him was exactly the opposite of what has been touted by the media.

There exist untold stories which can lead us to the truthful side of this former police chief.Lim's career as a police officer is exactly the opposite of what the media has been telling us for many years. Alfredo Lim was once a corrupt cop. Lim's career as a police officer was marred with reported cases of corruption, utter disregard for the law, abuse of authority and human rights violations including "salvaging," shady deals and a reign of terror, all perpetrated by Lim and his cohorts.

Alfredo Lim was popularly known by his comrades in uniform as a master of manipulations.Lim knew very well the many ways of soliciting loyalty and support from his colleagues and subordinates in the police force.He manipulated his subordinates to get their support for his personal gain and promotion. His manipulative nature has also helped him in covering up his misdeeds and his affiliation to a number of syndicates and illegal activities. Lim is widely known as a patron of Manila's drug lords and smugglers. The former MPD chief is closely identified with one of the most powerful drug lords in Manila.Lim has been extending protection to numerous drug lords of the city including his friend Manuel Velasco, the leader of a big drug syndicate at Binondo; and even his nephew, certain Maynard Limcangco Siojo. Aside from illegal drugs, Lim is also involved in protecting big-time smugglers and smuggling syndicates.

Alfredo Lim's success in portraying himself as an outstanding police officer is nothing but a product of his ability to manipulate media. The media has been constantly portraying Lim as a no-nonsense, honest to goodness police officer. The Manila Mayor was successful in hiding all his wrongful acts and misdeed he has done during his stint in as police chief. Meanwhile, the dark side of Mayor Lim continues to be untold and remained uncovered.

-Julius Arante

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim: Manila's Biggest Mistake

The nation's capital which was once called The Pearl of the Orient Seas, deteriorated and decayed under the administration of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim. As city mayor, Lim has completely negated all the growth and development recorded in the city during the administration of his predecessor.Since he took control, the city has encountered drastic blows to its dream of becoming a premiere and world class city.Moreover, a lot of impoverished Manilenos suffered under the city government's incapacity in delivering basic social needs.

The failures of governance in Manila became more evident than ever as the city degenerates at a faster pace. Just by walking around Manila's streets can give us an idea how the present administration had become insensible and ignorant of the city's needs. It is no doubt why Manila has been left behind by other Asian cities like Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur in all aspects. For a person who endears the city so much, the pain becomes unbearable in accepting the fact that the once mighty and lovely city has turned into a complete mess and cesspool. We do not have to go beyond things on finding who's to blame on the deterioration of our beloved nation's capital.No one is more liable for the failures of governance in Manila than Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim.The present mayor along with his administration failed miserably in governing the city as a result of their complete abandonment and negation of what was successfully started by their predecessors. Instead of starting on what was completed by the former mayor; Lim started to employ a new policy and form of governance much to the discontent of the already thriving city residents.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and the city's inability to take action during emergency situations and tragedies was apparent during the recent fire that razed the old downtown Manila.The crowded shantytown was burned down completely and almost 3,000 families lost their homes. The incident further uncovered the city government's lack of evacuation and relocation capabilities as three thousand families were left struggling on finding a new place for shelter. Instead of giving priority to the welfare of the fire victims, the city government was too busy in trying to sell the area to a property developer.

Under Alfredo Lim, a former police officer himself, Manila's peace and order situation was at its worst as evident in the record-high levels of crime recorded in the city.The streets of Manila are still haven to some of the most notorious pickpockets and holdup artists. In terms of infrastructure, the city does not have the adequate infrastructure it needs to improve navigation and travel within the city. The city's streets are still choking in pollution and traffic flow is more chaotic.

The present mayor did not have any housing programs that could have benefited thousands of homeless people inhabiting almost every city street. Mayor Lim also promised to veto the measure that would call for the removal of the oil depot in Pandacan but when the measure was passed, he acted the other way. There was also no available economic plan dedicated on uplifting the lives and providing the poor with employment and livelihood opportunities.Public hospitals of the city are seeking for new medical equipment and medical supplies, and there is a shortage of medical facilities to which Manilenos could run into when needed.It was also under Lim's leadership that the beautification of Manila was abandoned as evident in the now stinking Luneta Park and dimmed Avenida Rizal. Manila is stinking just like its esteros and streets.

Despite all of these failures of governance in Manila, Alfredo Lim is still searching for another three-year mandate in this forthcoming Manila Election.Lim is again claiming several unnoticed achievements he made during his tenure as city mayor. As he pushes through with his campaign, Lim is again promising to fulfill numerous programs and projects, though majority of his prior promises were not fulfilled.Let's just hope that the Manilenos can realize what it was like when Alfredo Lim was not their mayor.

Manila further deteriorated and decayed under the administration of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim. As city mayor, Lim has completely negated all the growth and development gained by the city under the leadership of his predecessors. The failures of governance in Manila became more apparent in almost all aspects. The present mayor failed miserably in running the city as he completely abandoned and negated what was successfully started by his predecessors.

-Julius Arante

Alfredo Lim Is Not A Real EDSA1 Hero

Alfredo Lim has been erroneously receiving accolades and admiration for the role he played during the famed EDSA 1. The mayor of Manila, who is running for reelection, has been stating false claims and wrong representation to solidify his image as a real EDSA 1 hero.Mayor Lim has in many ways succeeded in doing so as evident in the current status of his political career. However, as he succeeds in building up his reputation, he also continues to make misrepresentation of the facts.

Recorded events of old Manila watch will enlighten us with the truth about Alfredo Lim.The mayor of Manila has been building up his image for his own political gain at the expense of another great unknown EDSA hero in Col. Jose H. Dawis. Dawis acted as the Chief of Police of Quezon City during EDSA 1 under the control of the then General Lim.Dawis is well acquainted with how the former general acted during the height of EDSA1.However, his account of Lim's participation in EDSA1 continues to be untold and misrepresented.

Colonel Dawis knew very well how General Lim acted like a coward during the height of demonstrations and protests.As Commanding General, Lim was not bold enough to face the angry demonstrators and was cowardly hiding in small Antique shop in P. Tuazon the whole time laden with fear. He was very hesitant and fearful that he passed on the burden of controlling the crowd in EDSA to his personnel.Dawis remembered that it was General Lim who ordered him to disperse the crowd in EDSA at all cost upon the order of order of then President Ferdinand Marcos.

Colonel Dawis at that time only had a handful of 100 people under him when he was ordered by General Lim to disperse the crowd of more than 100,000 in EDSA. To make Colonel Dawis' job more manageable, General Lim has promised him with additional 500 military men to help him in the dispersion of the crowd in EDSA. But Colonel Dawis was disobedient.The brave Colonel stood his ground and told Gen. Lim that he will not disperse the crowd who were just expressing their grievances peacefully.

The defiance of Colonel Dawis has made General Lim irate and angry. He was completely furious with how Colonel Dawis responded and disobeyed his orders. As a response, General Lim started to berate Colonel Dawis who remained unmoved. Colonel Dawis stuck to his principles and did not follow the orders of his superior officer despite the threats of losing his job.

Former Senator Butch Aquino can prove this claim since he and Colonel Dawis had developed a very good relationship.Colonel Dawis was very considerate and warm to the opposition leaders and would allow them to protest peacefully in Quezon City.

This is a clear sign that the accolades and admiration that Alfredo Lim enjoys should not be extended to him. Lim does not deserve to be regarded as one of the many real heroes of EDSA1 for the fact that he was never one. Lim is misleading the public into believing his frivolous claims and misrepresentations of facts at the expense of another great and worthy hero. Colonel Dawis is the real EDSA1 hero and should be the one receiving all the necessary accolades and recognition, and not the person who desperately tries to build his self a reputation using nothing but lies.

The mayor of Manila, who is seeking reelection, has been making frivolous claims and false representation to bolster his image as a real EDSA one hero. Mayor Alfredo Lim has been erroneously receiving accolades and admiration and has in many ways succeeded in doing so as evident in the current status of his political career. On the contrary, Lim is using his frivolous claims and misrepresentations of facts at the expense of another great and worthy hero, Colonel Dawis.

-Julius Arante

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim Is A Fake EDSA 1 Hero

FROM A DISTANCE By Carmen N. Pedrosa (The Philippine Star) Updated February 28, 2010 12:00 AM

In deference to the request of Jocelyn Dawis-Asuncion, daughter of Col. Jose H. Dawis who was the Chief of Police of Quezon City during EDSA 1, I am giving her space in today’s column.

She was indignant at the continuous misrepresentation of the facts repeated by her father’s boss then, Gen. Alfredo Lim who by the way is running for reelection as Mayor of Manila. She believes that Lim is burnishing his image for cheap politics at the expense of her father.

Lim used an excerpt from Nick Joaquin’s book as EDSA’s untold story finally narrated.

Here is her version of events told and retold to her by her father while he was still alive. Hers is the real untold story, not Lim’s but she did not know of any journalist who might take it up.

“Each year, every February, stories like this (published in another newspaper, not The STAR) will come out in the papers. My dad, Colonel Jose H. Dawis, the then Chief of Police of Quezon City during the time of the EDSA 1, will always tell us the story of his Commanding General who was cowardly hiding in small Antique shop in P. Tuazon the whole time laden with fear and who actually ordered him to disperse the crowd of EDSA at all cost upon orders of then President Ferdinand Marcos.

My dad, who had less than 300 people under him at the time, was ordered by Gen. Alfredo Lim to disperse the crowd of more than 100,000 and Gen Lim promised him 500 men will come from the military. My dad stood his ground and told Gen. Lim that he will not disperse the crowd who were just expressing their grievances peacefully. He got mad with my Dad’s response and started to berate my dad. My dad did not follow the orders of his superior officer. It did cross his mind that this may break his career but he stood by his decision anyway.

Sen. Butch Aquino is witness to this because my dad has always dealt with him when they would go to Quezon City to hold demonstration rallies. My dad, the Chief of Police of Quezon City, had developed a very good relationship with the opposition leaders led by Sen. Butch Aquino and then students leaders like Lean Alejandro, Senator Kiko Pangilinan, Chito Gascon and Mike Defensor. He would always allow them to protest peacefully in Quezon City and after a few hours the protestors will disperse without any incidence of violence.

It is unfortunate that my dad is not here anymore to refute all the lies peddled by General Lim. Through the years, he kept his silence knowing in his heart who the real EDSA hero is.

But I will not keep my silence. I know who the real EDSA hero is.

It is my father not General Lim. If my Dad is indeed General Lim’s friend as he claims, I wish he would stop using the name of my father and dishonoring him.

My dad is one of the real heroes of EDSA and should be counted among the hundreds of thousands of people who fought the oppression of the Marcos regime.

Source: manilawatch

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim Is Charged With Graft For Sale Of Century Park Hotel

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and Vice Mayor Isko Moreno is facing graft charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for playing a major role in the fraudulent bidding and sale of the Century Park Hotel at a bargain price of P 1 Billion. Lim and Moreno alongside 20 councilors, four other city officials and four John Does are the people involved in a 26-page complaint filed by former legal adviser of Lim and close friend Atty. Reynaldo L. Bagatsing. The complaint is pushing for the immediate nullification of the said anomalous transaction and the appropriate punishment for the perpetrators involved.

Bagatsing has expressed his deep concern about that the transaction which he sees as manifestly and grossly disadvantageous to the City of Manila as the city is set to lose almost P2 billion. The five-star Century Park Hotel is currently located on a 4.5 hectare prime property which could have earned the city government with at least P3 billion in sales. Instead, the city government has awarded the prime property at a bargain price of P1 billion, a far cry from what should have been its original price.It was claimed by Bagatsing that Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and Vice Mayor Isko Moreno used their authority to make sure that the transaction will take place for the benefit of the mayor's ally in Lucio Tan.

The documents obtained by Bagatsing from the City Assessor's Office shows that the land occupied by the hotel was inexplicably reduced to an area of 22, 967 square meters and worth P 965,261,850 or almost P1 billion. The price of which the land was sold does not actually reflect the current zonal valuation of the land as directed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue. In reference to the BIR's assessment, the current value and selling price of prime properties in the Malate-Ermita district ranges from P 50,000 to P 80,000 per square meter. Using the current valuation, the land should have been sold for about P3 billion.

The right to the land was awarded to the winning bidder Maranaw Hotels and Resort Corporation, the owner of Century Park Hotel.The corporation is publicly listed and a widely known property of business tycoon Lucio Tan, a known ally of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim. In 2003, Tan's firm gained the rights to operate the hotel in 2003 from Tourist Trade and Travel Corporation of the Martel family. Maranaw Hotels and Resort Corporation, the current hotel's operator, submitted a P1 billion bid and won the right to the land. It is believed that Lim may have played a hand in the said anomalous transaction due to his closeness to Tan.

It was believed that the city council composed of 20 councilors have given Lim the authority to negotiate the sale of the hotel through City Council Resolution No. 176 adopted on August 5, 2008.The city council has also confirmed and ratified the award and sale to Tan's firm through Resolution No. 278 approved on December 23, 2008.The said transaction also took place in complete rush, in only a span of five months after Lim was granted authority to negotiate the sale.To make sure that the anomalous transactions will not be uncovered, the Committee on Bid and Award issued and published erratic and false notice of auction in the in the Philippine Star.

All the evidences gathered and collected clearly show that there had been an attempt to reduce the price tag for the said property which clearly makes this transaction a sweetheart deal. The deal has benefited an ally of Mayor Lim and clearly betrays the city's taxpayers and residents.The involvement of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim in this fraudulent transaction is a clear indication of abuse of authority and power, and a clear betrayal of the public's interest. The Ombudsman on its part must take a closer look in this case and bring all the people involved to justice.

The involvement of the Mayor of Manila in the fraudulent transaction sale of the Century Park Hotel at a bargain price of P 1billion, is a clear indication of abuse of authority and power, and a clear betrayal of the public's interest. Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and Vice Mayor Isko Moreno are charged with graft before the Office of the Ombudsman for their alleged involvement in the said anomalous transaction.

-Julius Arante