MANILA, Philippines – President Duterte who has vowed a crackdown on illegal gambling said he would prefer the numbers racket “jueteng,” saying it is a lesser evil compared to illegal drugs.

In his speech before local officials on Tuesday night, Duterte said “jueteng” had been a “successful” networking.

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“Kaya ngayon ‘yung mga…may mga jueteng na activity…Alam mo sabi nila, ‘Ito si Duterte na… hindi ‘yan, hindi ‘yan.’ Ang totoo talaga t*** i** hindi ako tumatanggap ng… Ang totoo niyan if I dismantle the network, ‘yung networking nila. ‘Yan ang pinakamagandang networking na successful talaga. Walang sabit,” he said.

The President said he would leave jueteng operations for now.

“Maski sinong Presidente ilagay mo dito, for as long as the economy does not really provide food on the table for so many families, hayaan mo na lang ‘yan. At least ang pera doon… Kasi hindi ko talaga rin kaya. At pagka sinira ko ‘yan, ang papalit sa apparatus niyan droga. So choose between the lesser evil,” he said.

This is not the first time Duterte said he would let jueteng operations to continue.

In June 2018, he said the illegal drug trade may take over if “jueteng” is stopped.

READ: Duterte says illegal drug trade may worsen if jueteng is stopped

“Jueteng is unlawful. It is not legal. It cannot be allowed,” he said. “If I stop it, I must be prepared to give another livelihood scheme to the people.”

“Because if you can’t find an alternative, drugs will replace the operations. That would be more deadly,” he added./ac

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