Sunday, November 11, 2007 Militant groups against lotto, too By Jerome S. Galunan Jr.
VARIOUS cause oriented groups have expressed their opposition on the entry of the Small Town Lottery (STL) in Bacolod and Negros Occidental.
Among the three that signified intentions to rally against STL are Bayan-Negros, Gabriela and Citizens Movement for Good Governance (CMGG).
Bayan-Negros spokesman Felipe Levy Gelle said the less fortunate people will be affected by STL because most of them will only depend on the possibility of winning prizes on this number game.
The poor will even gamble the last centavo in their pocket just because of STL.
"I hope those in the Sanguniang Panglunsod (City Council) who voted positively for STL will reconsider their positions for the welfare of the people of Bacolod," Gelle hoped.
He added that STL is another burden for those Bacolenos who are in the poverty level as well as those who wish for an immediate twist of their present lives.
Gabriela-Negros, on the other hand, also stressed their opposition against STL saying, "STL is still a form of gambling that will further increase the numbers of those in the poverty list in the country."
CMGG, a non-government organization, headed by Pastor Tony Ciocon has declared their position against STL operation.
Ciocon said that they will be joining any protest action to be taken against STL in Bacolod.
