In the line with the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's campaign against illegal gambling, Laguna Governor Teresita "Ningning" S. Lazaro, in a recent flag raising ceremony held at the Laguna Cultural Center in Sta. Cruz, strongly supports the carckdown on jueteng, the dominant and covert gambling type operating in the country.

     Though it provides jobs and income to the lower baracket of the society, Lazaro stressed that majority of those who benefit from jueteng are the corrupt officials and individuals who exploit the poor. For her the cycle of poverty will continue unless the less fortunate people are given descent jobs by the government to raise their families. Also, these people will continue to cling to this practice unless they are given alternative livelihood.

     In this, regard, Gov. Lazaro directed the local police and the local peace and order council to remain focus and vigilant as they guard their jurisdiction from society's ill like gambling, drugs, criminality and the like.

     "Laguna is among the properous in the country and we won't allow jueteng, or any form of criminality to thrive in the birthplace of our national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. Addressing this concern is also addressing the needs of our fellow countrymen who belong to the marginalized sector. With our collective efforts, continuous consulations and dialogues, I am very certain that one-step at a time; we can curve the ill effects of jueteng which dominated our socuety since the colonial time. KAYANG-KAYA 'PAG SAMA-SAMA!, Lazaro further exclaimed. (PIO-Laguna)