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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