The Diocese of Bacolod will launch a campaign against city officials who will promote illegal or legalized gambling in Bacolod City. This was after the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod granted a Resolution of No Objection in allowing Super Lucky Beagler Inc. to operate Small Town Lottery in the city during its session Wednesday. Those who voted in favor of the resolution 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. SAC director Fr. Ernie Larida yesterday said the Church is against all forms of gambling, whether legal or illegal. He said the SP did not consult them before granting a RONO for the operation of STL in Bacolod. Larida said “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.” If they will continue to allow the operation of STL, they will hang tarpaulins in the facade of the Church indicating the names of the city officials who voted in favor of its operation, he said. Larida said the Bishop had earlier opposed the operation of STL in the city and the province. What values will this give the people? He asked. This will only make people poorer because they will bet their last money instead of buying their basic needs, he said. The people, particularly the poor, will resort to gambling because they are jobless. If the leaders will find ways to provide more jobs, the people will not resort to gambling, he said. Larida recalled that during the Arroyo administration the bishops were very vocal against jueteng because many of the poor were affected and this only benefitted gambling lords who financed politicians. These politicians promoting STL and other games of chance because elections are fast approaching, he said. Ang said she respects the position of the Church. She has made a stand on many issues and she always votes on whatever her conscience dictates. And she will stand up to what she has decided on. “I hope the Church also puts up tarpaulins if officials vote in favor of issues that will benefit and protect the people,” she said. Ang said she saw that STL, which was legalized in 2005 during the Arroyo administration to curb illegal numbers game like jueteng, is not any different from Lotto or the Casino, to which the City Council had also issued a RONO. The charter of STL states that a share of the income it generates will go to the local government and the police, and the proceeds from the national will go directly to medical assistance programs and calamity assistance, she said. “If we regulate it then, we can monitor and supervise their operations so that they do not violate any provision of the Anti-Illegal Gambling Act,” Ang said. In Bacolod, there are many STL bettings coming from neighboring local governments where it is legalized, she added. Gamboa said he considers this form of gambling a lesser evil compared to other forms. “If we cannot defeat gambling, we might as well join it, he said. Asked if he will approve the operation of STL, Mayor Monico Puentevella said he has not yet read the transcript of the SP and he needs to study it first. Puentevella said STL has been operating in the province and had benefitted it for several years. If he will not approve it, the SP might question why he approved the operation of the Casino and will not approve STL, he said. He will meet with the SP first and talk to Larida about the matter, he said. Why did they not stop the province or launch a crusade against it? He asked. 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. “There are better options of helping your constituents and our city other than legalizing organized gambling in Bacolod City, Larida said.*CGS BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO
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