Baguio village leaders told: No more gambling
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines—The city government has clamped down on all projects that require barangay officials to mount bingo games, betting stations and other forms of short-term gaming operations to raise funds.
Mayor Mauricio Domogan, who was identified in a Senate inquiry by retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz as one of the officials supposedly coddling jueteng operations, issued the order on Wednesday after addressing newly elected barangay officials in the city. The mayor had appeared before the Senate to deny Cruz’s allegations, saying the accusation made by Cruz was baseless, but being careful not to assail the retired bishop.
Domogan had anticipated a Thursday rally which the city’s religious groups had scheduled to lobby for a tougher, all encompassing and new antigambling policy from the city government. But strong rains discouraged the group’s leaders from proceeding with their protest march.
Church stand
Baguio Bishop Carlito Cenzon and leaders of the Baguio Ecumenical Group and the Baguio Multisectoral Group had urged the city council to block 19 applications from several gaming firms that intend to operate small-town lottery and other betting stations in Baguio. The city government had scheduled several meetings and consultations to determine the public sentiment regarding state-run gambling, on the heels of Cruz’s allegations aired in September.
Mayor’s rules
In 2002, the city council voted to ban the STL. In 2008, the council enforced Resolution No. 281, which rejected proposals to operate the STL and compelled the council against acting on STL applications until the end of its term in office, which was June 30 this year. Domogan said the city government needs a clear mandate from residents about gambling because it may have to wage war against national agencies if it reestablishes this policy.
“STL is run by government and has been legitimized by law,” he said.
Domogan said he has focused his resources on barangay councils, which have allowed gambling operations in their areas. In 2008 and 2009, the city government investigated several barangay councils that mounted bingo games that operated using rules common to illegal numbers rackets like jueteng.
Domogan asked village officials to avoid these revenue-generating measures.
SOURCE:
Vincent Cabreza, Inquirer Northern Luzon
THE PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER
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