MANILA - Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Thursday said “jueteng” is a lesser evil compared to the illegal drug trade, as he defended President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to go easy on the illegal numbers game.

Duterte last week said he might as well let jueteng operations continue because many families depend on it to put food on the table.

Dela Rosa echoed Duterte’s sentiment, saying some jueteng operators might just turn to the illegal drug trade if the government cracks down on the popular form of illegal gambling.

“Alam mo si Presidente makipag-compromise sa lesser evil,” Dela Rosa said in a forum at the Senate.

(The President just wants to reach a compromise by dealing with the lesser evil.)

“Sa illegal gambling maraming nabubuhay. Sa drugs, maraming namamatay.”

(In illegal gambling, many get to have livelihood. In drugs, people die.)

In 2017, self-confessed Davao Death Squad leader Arturo Lascañas claimed Duterte tolerated the conduct of illegal numbers game "Last Two" during his stint as Davao City mayor.

Duterte was mayor of the southern city for over 2 decades.

• Duterte tolerated illegal numbers game in Davao: ex-cop