Former President Joseph Estrada has been advised by lawmakers against his take on legalizing the illegal numbers game “jueteng” as a means to address widespread poverty in the country.

House Speaker Prospero Nograles said Estrada’s favorable stand on jueteng legalization could be “unhelpful” to his plan to run again for president next year.

“My personal opinion only is that politically that (to legalize jueteng) is not a good way to begin the presidency. Secondly and honestly I think it’s bad propaganda for him because that was one of the big issues that did him in,” Nograles said in a text message.

The Speaker noted that in 2007, Estrada was convicted of plunder for accepting jueteng kickbacks during his short-lived presidency but had been pardoned later.

Nograles, vice-chairman of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD, said it would be better if Estrada would “really study, consult and assess this statement again.”

“Catholic bishops, religious groups will certainly oppose this move. Besides, lastly I must say that legally, Erap should never forget that it’s only  Congress that can amend gambling laws and not the executive department who only implements the law,” he said.

At a leaders’ forum held in Makati City recently, Estrada said millions of families were benefiting from jueteng and that he favored legalizing it “until the time we find alternative jobs for our people.”

Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya, secretary general of the Liberal Party, also rejected Estrada’s stand on jueteng, saying the country needs morally upright leaders that would inspire the poor to work than engage into gambling.

Abaya told Estrada that jueteng can be eradicated if “top officials in the land aren’t in cahoots.”

“I have never been a gambling advocate. Jueteng should never be legalized,” Abaya said.

Party-list Reps. Joel Villanueva of the Citizens Battle Against Corruption and Joel Maglunsod said Estrada was only giving false hopes to the poor with his pro-jueteng stand.

“My belief that jueteng gives false hopes to the people has not changed,” said Villanueva, son of evangelist Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” Villanueva of the Jesus Is Lord (JIL) Movement.

“Imbes na makatulong gaya ng sinasabi ng ilan, nahuhuthutan pa si Juan dela Cruz ng pinaghirapan nilang salapi dahil lang sa madayang pangako ng instant cash o easy money ng sugal na ito. Ang magandang kultura natin kung walang tiyaga walang nilaga ay hindi dapat balewalain,” he added.

Maglunsod, who represents the marginalized labor sector in Congress, said Estrada should work for a genuine land reform and housing for the underprivileged instead of promoting a culture of gambling.

“Ang tunay na tulong sa mahihirap ay ang pagbibigay ng lupa at bahay sa pamamagitan ng pagpapatupad sa tunay na repormang agraryo at kasabay sa pambansang industriya upang maka-create ng trabaho ang ating mamamayan at hindi pag-legalisa sa jueteng,” Maglunsod said.