As what the diocese of Bacolod did to the Reproductive Health (RH) supporters, Larida said they would also hang streamers to inform the public of the local officials who voted in favor of legalized gambling. BACOLOD City, Philippines – The diocese of Bacolod will launch a campaign against city officials who are promoting gambling, whether legal or illegal, Social Action Center director Fr. Ernie Larida said yesterday. The move came after the Bacolod city council granted last week a Resolution of No Objection (RONO) to Super Lucky Beagler Inc. to operate the Small Town Lottery (STL) here. Councilors Alex Paglumotan, Wilson Gamboa Jr., Noli Villarosa, Em Ang, Caesar Distrito and Roberto Rojas voted in favor of the resolution while Councilors El Cid Familiaran and Sonya Verdeflor voted against it. Super Lucky Beagler president Jexter Mercado asked the council for permission to open STL branches in the city last Aug. 11. The company operates in several areas in Negros Occidental province and is the sole authorized agent-corporation of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office for the province. The SP resolution will be forwarded to Mayor Monico Puentevella for approval. Asked if he will approve the operation of STL, Puentevella said he has not yet read the transcript of the SP and that he needs to study it first. He stressed, though, that those who oppose STL should expand their crusade against the numbers game because it is already operating elsewhere in the province. “Why do they express their opposition to STL in Bacolod City only?” the mayor asked. But Larida said in his letter to the council that “there are better options of helping your constituents and our city other than legalizing organized gambling in Bacolod City.” He added that the church is against all forms of gambling, whether legal or illegal, aside from saying that the church was not consulted before the RONO grant. As what the diocese of Bacolod did to the Reproductive Health (RH) supporters, Larida said they would also hang streamers to inform the public of the local officials who voted in favor of legalized gambling. “It would be an educational campaign to guide the public on who they should vote for in the 2016 elections,” he claimed. At the height of the 2013 senatorial elections, the Church labeled pro-RH senators as “Team Patay” and those against as “Team Buhay.” Larida explained that the church is opposing STL because it promotes the culture of gambling and leads to a culture of indolence among the people. “We should not vote for these officials who promote illegal gambling. Instead of creating more jobs for the people, they are creating a culture of gambling,” he said. Larida believes that allowing STL in the city would only make people poorer as they would bet their last money instead of buying basic needs. Philstar.com by Danny Dangcalan
0 Comments
BACOLOD City – Boga, an improvised noisemaker popular during the holidays, is dangerous and must be banned.
It is detrimental to life and limb, said Councilor Elcid Familiaran, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s Committee on Police, Security and Jail Management and Penology. His proposed ordinance outlawing boga hurdled first reading in the city council. Boga is a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cannon. It is made from a length of PVC pipe of substantial diameter mated to a toy gun. The more daring use small projectiles like marbles as boga bullets. Boga has become potent that some use it for hunting, said Familiaran. The ban aims to protect city residents as boga can be detrimental to public safety, he said. Boga is not covered by Republic Act 7183, the law regulating the sale, manufacture, distribution and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices. Under Familiaran’s proposed ordinance, it is punishable to possess, carry and use boga. Violators will be fined not less than P2,000 but not more than P5,000 or imprisoned from three to six months, or both, at the court’s discretion. Minors violating the ban shall undergo counseling and rehabilitation at the city’s Social Development Center. National health officials have repeatedly warned against use of boga which carries a risk of blast or burn injury. In some instances, boga users prematurely open it whenever it fails to fire, causing any delayed blasts to fire upon the unsuspecting user’s face. In 2012, the Police Regional Office 6 described Western Visayas as a “special concern” because it was the only region with a considerable number of boga-related injuries, with most of the victims children./PN BY MAE SINGUAY Panay News, Negros Improvised toy guns, locally known as “boga”, being used by children for playing and hunting have been proven to be dangerous and, therefore, should be illegalized.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod on first reading has approved an ordinance declaring the possession of improvised toy guns as illegal in the city. Bacolod Councilor El Cid Familiaran, chairman of the Committee on Police, Security and Jail Management and Penology, said that “boga” is a deadly weapon that can kill anyone. This improvised gun uses a marble or “holin” as bullet, and several incidents have been reported that some children have been accidentally hit by the bullet while playing, resulting to hospitalization and death, the proposed ordinance said. The proposed ordinance seeks to prohibit or ban possession and usage of “boga” in the city, as its alteration for usage and subsequent possession has already become detrimental to the lives of people. Any person found possessing “boga” will be fined of not less than P2,000 but not more than P5,000, and a penalty of three to six months imprisonment at the discretion of the court. Minors found violating this ordinance will be subjected to counseling and rehabilitation at the Social Development Center (SDC), the ordinance stated./WDJ By Nicole A. Villavecer Watchmen Daily Journal Installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras is required in all financial institutions and other business establishments as a security measure.
This was stressed by Councilor El Cid Familiaran, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Police Matters, during his visit at the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), yesterday morning. Familiaran said he is urging the Permits and Licensing Office of the city to strictly implement City Ordinance 600, which requires all banks and other financial institutions, business establishments, within the City of Bacolod, to install CCTV within their premises. “Business owners should install CCTVs before they could get their business permits,” Familiaran stressed. Familiaran cited the recent robbery/hold-up incident wherein a money changing firm lost an estimated P500,000 cash to three suspects. Familiaran stressed that if the money changing firm has a CCTV, police will have no difficulty in identifying the suspects. Earlier, Senior Supt. Pedrito Escarilla, BCPO officer-in-charge, had directed chiefs of all police stations to visit business establishments in their respective areas for security purposes. The BCPO chief said establishment owners should hire security guards to protect their tenants and clients. He has instructed the station commanders to coordinate with the operation managers of the different business establishments to design a security plan in their respective areas. Meanwhile, Familiaran said that he had already asked Mayor Monico Puentevella for additional mobile patrol vehicles for six police stations under the BCPO in order to intensify police visibility. Familiaran said that police visibility is very important, as he disclosed that “crime solution is only secondary to crime prevention.” Familiaran further stressed that the police could immediately respond to any crimes if they have patrol vehicles./WDJ By Glazyl Jane Marie Y. Masculino Watchmen Daily Journal |
Categories
All
|