Two local government officials will testify against Gov. Armando Espino of Pangasinan province for his alleged involvement in the operation of the illegal numbers game jueteng.

Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas 2nd presented Mayor Rodrigo Orduna of Bunggalon and Barangay Chairman Fernando of Alimagno, as witnesses against Espino on Friday during a press conference in Camp Crame.

Orduna and Alimagno confessed to being Espino’s “bagmen” and filed plunder charges against the governor before the Office of the Ombudsman. They were accompanied by Pangasinan retired archbishop Oscar Cruz and current Pangasinan Bishop Deogracia Yniguez.

Roxas said that the Department of the Interior and the Local Government will be using all the laws in prosecuting and running after personalities involved in illegal gambling operations.

“Ang mai-aabiso kay Governor Espino ay kumuha siya ng mahusay na abugado sapagkat hindi ito madadaan sa politika. Hindi po ito madadaan sa kampihan o kakilala. Dadaan po to sa legal na proseso at tama,” Roxas said in the press conference.

“I have reviewed the existing laws covering this issues and especially coming from finance background . . . we will used the anti-money laundering law, we will follow the money trail,” the Interior chief added.

Orduna and Alimagno faced the media in Camp Crame where they detailed their involvement in jueteng, which they claimed was being protected by Espino starting when he was elected a representative.

Orduna, who is also a retired police official and Alimagno, told reporters that they had served as Espinos’ “bagmen” and personally delivered “protection” money to the governor.

Orduna said that Espino’s take from jueteng operation of about P10 million a month, to which he personally delivered P2.5 million weekly to the governor’s house or office.

“Maaingat din kasi ang mga ito at hindi po o ayaw po nila tumanggap ng tseke para makaiwas sa money-trail kaya personalan po ang nangyari kung saan dinala ko po sa kanya ang kanyang parte,” Orduna said.

Alimagno also said in the same press conference that they were also giving out jueteng payola of P825,000 weekly to police officials, media practitioners in the province and even up to Camp Crame. Orduna also admitted that he had a falling out with Espino because he felt that Espino was taking advantage of him and became ungrateful and more “greedy.”

Orduna said that his coming out in the open against the governor has nothing to do with politics and that his filing of case against Espino only coincided with the mid-term elections in May 2013.

“Its not politically motivated . . . Away negosyo ito, hindi sila nagkasundo sa kanilang usapan, pero iimbestigahan pa rin natin ito at sampahan ng kaukulan kaso ang dapat kasuhan,” Roxas said.

Safety of whistleblowers
The two bishops, meanwhile, expressed fear for the safety of Orduna and Alimagno.

“Maingat na maingat ako sa mga pagsabi ng mga whistleblowers sapagkat meron na dalawang sa aming mga kasama ang pinatay at hinahangaan ko sila sa kanilang paglabas at panalangin na sanay patnubayan sila,” Archbishop Cruz said in the press conference.

The retired archbishop also said that they have a new witness; a certain “PO3” has recently surfaced despite fear for his life and he is very willing to reveal what he knows about the allegedly jueteng involvement of the Pangasinan governor.

President Benigno Aquino 3rd ordered Roxas to ensure the safety of whistleblowers and investigate other officials allegedly receiving jueteng payola to build a strong case against jueteng operations, Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda said on Friday.

Lacierda also said that Roxas ordered the reshuffling of police personnel in Pangasinan to determine culpability, if any, and to guarantee that there will be no whitewash in the investigation.

“We are determined to pursue this case to its logical end under the rule of law and should serve as a warning to syndicates and coddlers of illegal gambling operations to stop or be stopped,” Lacierda added.