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Abp. Cruz—Man of the Year
05 January 2006—The Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan and head of Krusadang Bayan Laban sa Jueteng has been named Man of the Year of Philippines Free Press.
Abp. Oscar V. Cruz, was honored 'For stepping out of the church and standing for morality on behalf of the poor, for fearlessly challenging the high and mighty, for showing that jueteng was never reduced but flourished even more under the Arroyo administration, and for creating a wider public awareness of the evil that is jueteng and its influence in the country's corridors of power.'
The magazine said it decided to choose Cruz for his tireless work in trying to save hapless Filipinos from the evil of jueteng, an illegal numbers racket. "All he wanted to do was wake up the poor to their exploitation by the gambling lords and their political and police coddlers," said Free Press.
The crusade against jueteng is a risky campaign where lives of people leading it are at stake. Cruz have to go up against the powers that be and work with their villains. "Yet he (Cruz) showed what determination driven by sincerity could do in fighting vice and corruption."
Among his remarkable contributions were his relentless and fearless exposes about the widespread corruption from jueteng before the two investigating committee in the senate.
Cruz, 71, meanwhile, extended his utmost gratitude to people behind Free Press.
"I cannot but thank all those who came to that conclusion and wrote about it. I appreciate the kind attention—although this be undesired," he said.
The Man of the Year recognition is given to people that for better or worse, has most influenced events in the preceding year.
Retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr., was conferred by the Free Press as the Man of the Year for 2003 followed by Senator Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel in 2004. (Roy Q. Lagarde)
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