BAGUIO CITY – Local residents and concerned religious leaders in the city are now up in arms against the grant of an endorsement by the City Council to an applicant to operate an electronic bingo outlet within the Maharlika Livelihood Center and called on local officials not to renew permits issued to e-bingo outlets in the Baguio Center Mall and along Marcos highway.
In a strongly-worded letter to Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan, the religious leaders led by Catholic Bihop Carlito J. Cenzon, Philian Louise Weygan, Dra. Ma. Reylita C. Calimlim, Dra. Milandre Rusgal, Pastor Jonathan Erardo, Pastor Abraham Luis, Rebecca A. Taylor, Rev. Sharon Langbis. Geraldine Fiag-oy and Alicia Pacsi Dizon, all of the Baguio-Benguet Ecumenical Group, urged local officials not to issue permits and licenses to e-bingo establishments in the city.
The group was informed that during the suspension of rules last December 12, 2016, the City Council approved the request of an e-bingo operator to operate an e-bingo outlet inside the Maharlika Livelihood Center which is contrary to the anti-gambling policy of the local government.
Only Councilors Peter Fianza and Maria Victoria Mylen G. Yaranon abstained during the voting for the approval of the endorsement for the said operator to operate an e-bingo outlet inside the establishment right in the city’s central business district area.
“We feel that the City Council by approving the issuance of permit or recommendation to PAGCOR for e-bingo in the city are not supportive to improving the morals, health, comfort and peace in our beloved city,” the religious leaders stated in their letter.
The group also raised objections to the conduct of e-bingo or any form of gambling in any part of the city as it will continue to corrupt and degrade our people and our city which has always consistently maintained a character of being an anti-gambling city.
According to their letter, they consider Baguio City as a religious and an educational center, thus, it is in the protection of the present and future generations that they vehemently object to the operation of establishments that become temptations to the values formation, moral and character building of the faithful members and the students as well.
“Gambling when available becomes a choice. A choice between being in the gambling dens rather in school, work, home or fruitful endeavors. It is a choice between betting or using money for food and basic necessities. It is a choice between gambling time as against fruitful time spent with family and friends. It is a choice between believing in chance of becoming an honest earner,” the group emphasized in their letter.
The group appealed to local officials that they should not provide gambling as a choice for the people and for them to support family-oriented tourism, honest and clean businesses, for responsible public officials and city employees and protected schoolchildren, students and families.
By HENT