BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said the existence of Small Town Lottery (STL) helped minimize illegal numbers game in the province. Maranon issued this statement when asked for his reaction on the move of the Catholic Church to vilify Bacolod City councilors who endorsed STL operation in the city through a Resolution of No Objection (RONO). "Which will you choose, legal or illegal? STL is legal and it gives a share of its revenues to the host local government unit," Marañon said. The eight City councilors who approved the RONO are Em Ang, Roberto Rojas, Wilson Gamboa Jr., Alex Paglumotan, Noli Villarosa, and Caesar Distrito. Councilors El Cid Familiaran and Sonya Verdeflor dissented. Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella has yet to make definite decision on the STL issue but he defended the councilors from the Catholic Church’s threats. Puentevella said the church appears to espouse double standards of justice when it fell silent as STL was being pushed in the province. “What’s the difference between the province and this city?” Puentevella said even as he revealed plans to talk to the councilors and the church to evaluate the benefits of STL operations here. The Diocese of Bacolod said it is firm on its stand against illegal gambling which only promotes a “culture of indolence.” By: Dolly Yasa
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BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. is amenable to the operation of Small Town Lottery (STL) here and in the province. STL does not only reduce illegal gambling operations but also helps the police and the local government unit (LGU) through income sharing, said Marañon. “I am supporting STL because it is legal,” he said. “Unlike illegal gambling, LGUs and police benefit from its operation.” According to the governor, illegal gambling in Silay City was minimized after the city government allowed STL operations there. In this capital city, the Sangguniang Panlungsod does not object the proposed STL operation. The Diocese of Bacolod, however, opposes it. It vowed not to endorse the six councilors who voted for the passage of the city council’s “resolution of no objection” in case they run for any position in the 2016 election. Councilors Caesar Distrito, Em Ang, Roberto Rojas, Wilson Gamboa Jr., Paglumotan, and Noli Villarosa voted “yes,” while El Cid Familiaran and Sonya Verdelfor dissented. Mayor Monico Puentevella has yet to approve the resolution but already questioned the opposition of the Church, accusing the latter of being selective. STL had already been operating for quite some time in many LGUs in the province, the mayor stressed. If it is against STL, the Church might as well strongly oppose any form of gambling, including those supported by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., said Puentevella./PN By EDITH B. COLMO “Which will you choose, the legal or illegal?” This was the question posed by Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr.on whether he is in favor of the operation of Small Town Lottery (STL). Marañon pointed out that STL is “legal, and it gives a share to the host local government unit.” Without STL, illegal gambling will proliferate, he said. The issue on the operation of STL comes on the heels of the approval of the Bacolod City Sanggunian of a Resolution of No Objection (RONO), in response to the request of Super Lucky Beagler, Inc., operator of some STL outlets in Negros Occidental. Bacolod councilors Em Ang, Roberto Rojas, Wilson Gamboa Jr., Alex Paglumotan, Noli Villarosa, and Caesar Distrito voted to allow STL operations in the city, while El Cid Familiaran and Sonya Verdeflor did not. City Mayor Monico Puentevella is yet to decide whether to sign the SP’s RONO allowing STL operation in Bacolod, or not. Puentevella noted, however, that the Catholic Church specifically the Diocese of Bacolod did not oppose STL operations in Negros Occidental. “What’s the difference between the province and the city?,” the mayor said, adding that he will talk to the councilors, and also to church leaders if they wanted to. BY EUGENE ADIONG BISHOP Vicente Navarra is coming out with a pastoral letter about the Small Town Lottery (STL), Fr. Ernie Larida, director of the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Bacolod, said. Larida said the bishop is holding a closed-door meeting with 25 priests to discuss the issue on STL. The STL became controversial after the City Council passed a resolution of no objection for the operation of the numbers game in Bacolod. Larida said that he has already included in his homily the evils brought by gambling especially STL. He added that they will also mention the names of the members of the Bacolod City Council who voted for the approval of STL operation in the city. Those who voted in favor of the resolution granting Super Lucky Beagler Inc. (SLBI) the authority to operate during a special session last week are Councilors Alex Paglumotan, Wilson Gamboa Jr., Noli Villarosa, Roberto Rojas, Em Ang, Caesar Distrito. Councilors El Cid Familiaran and Sonya Verdeflor opposed. For his part, Gamboa said allowing STL to operate in Bacolod will create a demand for “an alternative choice” against the existence of illegal gambling. The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office remits seven percent of the STL’s monthly proceeds to the host-city for charity and basic services while one percent goes to the Philippine National Police. SLBI, which has an office at Montinola Bldg., Bonifacio St., Silay City, currently operates in certain areas in Negros Occidental as the sole authorized agent-corporation of the PCSO for STL in the province. (TDE) BACOLOD City – City Councilor El Cid Familiaran proposed an ordinance imposing fines on persons who sneak in contrabands in detention cells, jails, correctionals, reformatory centers and other similar institutions here.
BACOLOD City Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr. said he firmly believes that the Small Town Lottery (STL) of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) can help stop the proliferation of illegal numbers game in the city. Gamboa, who was among the six councilors who voted for the approval of the resolution of no objection for the operation of STL in Bacolod, added that allowing the PCSO’s numbers game to operate will create a demand for “an alternative choice” against the existence of illegal gambling. Aside from Gamboa, those who voted in favor of the resolution granting Super Lucky Beagler Inc. (SLBI) the authority to operate, are Councilors Alex Paglumotan, Noli Villarosa, Roberto Rojas, Em Ang, Caesar Distrito. Councilors El Cid Familiaran and Sonya Verdeflor opposed. “The government’s statement of an ‘all-out-war’ (against illegal gambling) through the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) ‘one strike policy’ is just taken lightly by these illegal operators. So we might as well allow the STL to counter the poor man’s gambling bet and regulate it,” the councilor said. Gamboa pointed out that although there is still no STL operation in Bacolod, agents from STL outlets in Talisay, Silay and other cities and municipalities in the province are still scattered in Bacolod to receive bets. “These daily extension activities of STL in Bacolod deprive us of our rightful share of the proceeds out of STL operation. This social services share is supposedly given to the City of Bacolod,” he added. The PCSO remits seven percent of the STL’s monthly proceeds to the host-city for charity and basic services while one percent goes to the PNP. Gamboa added that this is a pragmatic approach considering the Filipinos’ propensity to gamble as it is viewed as a form of recreation, harmless past time, or entertainment. “Most bettors even pray for intervention, seek signs from the heavens, and when they win, they thank God thus the Filipinos’ moral attitude against gambling is hardly influenced by their gambling attitude,” he noted. Gamboa added, “Can we really put the issue of morality in the picture? This is why we need to weigh in also the economic benefits to the individual, the city, and the country in general.” He also clarified his earlier statement of “if you can’t beat them, join them,” saying it should include “and regulate them.” Something that cannot be stopped can be regulated and contained, Gamboa said. On the other hand, Rev. Fr. Felix Pasquin, rector of the San Sebastián Cathedral in Bacolod, said the Catholic church is against the STL all over the province whether it is legal or illegal. STL is gambling and gambling is wrong, the priest said. “We don't encourage gambling and this is not only for Bacolod City. It's for all over the province," Pasquin said. “The approval does not make it morally right. It is still gambling." The resolution of no objection was passed by the City Council during their special session last Tuesday after SLBI president Jexter Mercado requested the council to allow them to open STL branches in Bacolod as stated in his Aug. 11 letter addressed to Paglumotan. SLBI, which has an office at Montinola Bldg., Bonifacio St., Silay City, operates in certain areas in Negros Occidental as the sole authorized agent-corporation of the PCSO for STL in the province.(with reports from TDE) Carla N. Cañet Councilor Wilson Gamboa, Jr. said yesterday in a DYEZ Aksyon Radyo program anchored by Renato Boy Duran that his stand favoring the operation of the Small Town Lottery (STL) here is to create demand for alternative choice against the existence of illegal gambling now massively hounding Bacolod City. Gamboa was among the Bacolod Councilors who voted in favor of the resolution granting Super Lucky Beagler Inc, authority to operate STL in Bacolod City; those who voted in favor were Councilors Alex Paglumotan, Noli Villarosa, Roberto Rojas, Em Ang, Caesar Distrito and Gamboa, while Councilors El Cid Familiaran and Sonya Verdeflor are not in favor. Gamboa added, “The government statement of an ‘all-out-war’ of the Philippine National Police (PNP) ‘one strike policy’ is just taken lightly by these illegal operators so we might as well allow the STL to counter the poor man’s gambling bet through jueteng, jai-alai, masiao, daily double and ‘last two digits’ and regulate them.” He also said, “Despite no STL operation here in Bacolod City, in reality, operators mostly from STL-allowed Talisay, Silay and other Cities and Municipalities in the province place their bets thru their ‘koridors’, bookies or runners scattered here in Bacolod then placed said bets in the STL-allowed areas of origin.” Gamboa stressed, “These daily extension activities of STL here in Bacolod which comes from neighboring STL-allowed Cities deprive us of our rightful share of the proceeds out of STL operation. This is funding social services share supposedly given to the City of Bacolod.” The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) will remit seven percent of the STL monthly proceeds to the Host City for charity and basic services while one percent goes to the PNP. Gamboa likewise explained a pragmatic approach considering the difficulty of mounting the morality issue on the Filipinos’ propensity to gamble as it is viewed as a form of recreation, harmless past time, entertainment, distraction, diversion; He explained that most bettors even pray for intervention, seek signs and interventions from the heavens and when they win, they thank God thus the Filipinos’ moral attitude against gambling hardly influence their gambling attitude. He said, “Gambling is a pervasive and habitual activity deeply rooted in the Filipino social psyche and culture. Gambling is gambling however, and there is no difference among and between all forms of gambling (i.e. cockfights, lusok, casinos, etc.) even if others seem less evil but we can REGULATE them.” Therefore, Gamboa asked, “Can we really put the issue of morality in the picture. This is why we need to weigh in also the economic benefit to the individual, the city and the country in general.” Gamboa clarified an earlier “if you can’t beat them, join them” statement as lacking one word which is “and regulate them” referring to said illegal gambling activities as something that cannot be stopped but can be regulated and contained.* Social Action Center director Fr. Ernie Larida of the Diocese of Bacolod yesterday said they will bring their campaign against local leaders, who promote illegal gambling, to the pulpit if they will allow its operation in Bacolod City. He reminded the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlugsod of the stand of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and the Diocese of Bacolod against all forms of illegal gambling, after it granted a Resolution of No Objection allowing Super Lucky Beagler Inc. to operate Small Town Lottery in the city during its session Wednesday. Larida said they will bring the matter up in the pulpits and in the political arena to remind the people that they are against politicians who want to promote gambling. They also want to remind and educate the people about the ills of gambling, he said. The Church is against all forms of gambling, whether legal or illegal, Larida said. These politicians are promoting STL and other games of chance because elections are fast approaching, he said. If the City Council pushes through with its plans, despite opposition from the church they will launch a campaign against them by hanging tarpaulins in front of the church bearing their names, he added. “We should not vote for officials who promote illegal gambling. Instead of creating more jobs for the people, they are creating a culture of gambling,” Larida said. This will only make people poorer because they will bet their last money instead of using it to buy their basic needs, he said. In his letter to the SP dated August 18, Larida said the Catholic Church teaches that “games of chance” or wagers are not in themselves contrary to justice. They become morally unacceptable when they deprive someone of what is necessary to provide for his needs and those of others. The passion for gambling risks becoming enslavement, he said. “There are better options of helping your constituents and our city other than legalizing organized gambling in Bacolod City, Larida said. Those who voted in favor of the resolution granting a RONO to STL were Councilors Alex Paglumotan, Wilson Gamboa Jr., Noli Villarosa, Em Ang, Caesar Distrito and Roberto Rojas, while those who voted against it were Councilors El Cid Familiaran and Sonya Verdeflor.*CGS BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO JONEL Calvez hit a crucial jumper to avoid overtime and Class ‘90 survived Class '84, 71-69 on Monday in the elimination round of the 3rd Negros Occidental High School Alumni Association (NOHSAAI) Basketball League 2015 held at the Bays Center in Bacolod City. Class '84 committed a turned the ball with less than 10 seconds to go and Roberto Celis drove in but missed a short jumper. Calvez got the rebound and put back the winning shot. Celis topscored with 11 points while Calvez scored only six but saved the game for the 90ers. Other Class 90 scorers were Mark Andren 10, Jojit Java 7, Radamis Exaltado and J Baniel six each, Jake Castellano and Gary Sellado five apiece, Edgar Grijaldo, Freddie Sablon and J Castellano three each, and Michael Osorio, Jose Rollo, and J Flores two each. Former WNU volleyball player Edgar Espares led Class '84 with a game-high 17 points supported by Joerimer Verde (16) and Leo Jerez (10). Class ‘90 is now 2-0 while Class '84 has yet to win with five games left in its schedule. Game between Class '96 and Class '93 was cancelled due to heavy rains. League commissioner El Cid Familiaran of Class '78 decided to move the game in a later date. Other results (Bracket A) Class '88 vs Class '84, 60-58; Class '89 vs Class '86, 76-74; and Class '88 vs Class '87, 90-85; (Bracket B) Class '94 vs Class '95, 70-50; Class '98 vs Class '91, 90-82; and Class '97 vs Class '92, 88-75; and, (Bracket C) Class '2001 vs Class 2004, 20-0; Class 2005 vs 2000, 69-60; Class 2003 vs Class 2002, 76-75; and Class 2005 vs Class '99, 55-52. Tournament format for the 23 teams calls for a single round robin elimination with the top four in each bracket advancing to a crossover semi-final. Survivors will then dispute the title of the league conceptualized by Class '91 president Fitzgerald Fuentes and Class '92 prexy Charina Tan-Magallanes. The duo initiated an experimental basketball tournament involving Dekada Noventa teams from Class '90 to Class '99 which other batches joined. Later it became an annual sports gathering after approval of NOHSAAI board of directors headed by then president Engr. Edwin Galon of Class ‘58. BACOLOD City Mayor Monico Puentevella said he will study the action of the City Council endorsing the operation of the Small Town Lottery (STL) in the city amid opposition from various sectors particularly the Diocese of Bacolod. The council approved during its special session Tuesday the required resolution of no objection authored by Councilor Alex Paglomutan. Along with Paglumotan, six of the eight councilors present voted in favor of the resolution, including Caesar Distrito, Em Ang, Roberto Rojas, Wilson Gamboa Jr., and Noli Villarosa. Councilors El Cid Familiaran and Sonya Verdeflor opposed. Puentevella said those who oppose the STL should expand their crusade against the numbers game because the STL of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has already been operating in other parts of Negros Occidental. “Why do they express their opposition to the STL operation in Bacolod City only?” he said. The resolution of no objection was passed after Jexter Mercado, president of Super Lucky Beagler Inc. (SLBI), requested the council to allow them to open STL branches in Bacolod as stated in his Aug. 11 letter addressed to Paglumotan. SLBI, which has office at Montinola Bldg., Bonifacio St., Silay City, operates in certain areas in Negros Occidental as the sole authorized agent-corporation of the PCSO for STL in the province. Puentevella said he is at a crossroads as the city also allows the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) games, and at the same time, STL is also legitimate gambling. "Where will I put myself here? Will this be an example of gambling for the rich and no gambling for the poor? Why don't those who oppose the STL call for its stoppage in the province? Why is it that STL is okay in the province and not in the City of Bacolod? Let us be fair to all," the mayor said. Rev. Fr. Ernie Larida, director of the Bacolod Diocese Social Action Center, said that for many years, the church had been opposing gambling either legal or illegal. He added that the Diocese of Bacolod will campaign against the six councilors who voted for the approval of the resolution endorsing the STL operation in Bacolod. "We will campaign against those councilors. We are planning also to hang a streamer with their names as what the church did to those national politicians who favored the passage of the Reproductive Health Law,” Larida said. He said the church is opposing STL because it promotes the culture of gambling and leads to a culture of indolence among the people. “We can’t do anything since the resolution was already approved, but we are touching on the conscience of our leaders not to promote this kind of culture,” the priest added. By CARLA N. CANET |
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