|
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Mayor nixes lotto backing
MAINTAINING his position against gambling, Baguio City Mayor Braulio Yaranon refused to endorse an application to set up another on-line lottery (lotto) sales outlet in the city.
The mayor denied the request of QM Subdivision resident Danilo Garcia for an endorsement of his application with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to set up a lotto outlet.
Garcia said Yaranon's endorsement was required by the PCSO to support his application for a license to operate a lotto outlet where he said he intends to employ disabled persons.
But Yaranon refused saying that although Garcia's purpose of employing disabled persons "is noble," the city cannot endorse the set up of another lotto station in keeping with its thrust to become a model city.
"It is with deep regret to inform you that we cannot grant the same considering that the Character City status prevents approval of more lotto outlets," the mayor wrote Garcia.
Resolution 107-2003 declared Baguio as a Character City, which encourages character building in all sectors of society including the city's schools and families.
Yaranon, who is known for his vehement stance against gambling, has led in campaigns to stamp out bingo, casino, jueteng and lotto in the city.
The City Council in 2002 also approved a resolution presented by the lotto probe ad hoc committee then created and headed by Councilor Edilberto Tenefrancia, which expresses "the sentiment of the people of Baguio and the policy of the city government against gambling and for other purposes."
The measure sought to attain the following:
"Reiterate the long standing sentiment of the people of Baguio that gambling is inimical to the public interest and is contrary to public welfare;
"Support the lately announced call of Dept. of Interior and Local Government to make the penalties against gambling stiffer and to impose strong sanctions against public officials and elements of the Philippine National Police who are found to be in the league with gambling operators;
"To suggest to Congress, through Rep. Mauricio Domogan and Senator Juan Flavier, the amendment of the Charter of Pagcor (Presidential Decree 1869) and the Charter of the Philippine charity Sweepstakes (Republic Act 1169) so as to give local government units authority to endorse or reject the operations of lotto and casino within their territorial jurisdictions and thereby to give meaning to Section 458 (1 -v) of the Local Government Code empowering the Sanggunian Panlungsod to 'enact ordinances intended to prevent, suppress and impose appropriate penalties for, among others, 'gambling and other prohibited games of chance;"'
"To encourage and assist the first lines of defense against gambling and other deleterious habits, namely, the home, the school, the church, the media and society in general to do a more sustained and never-ending campaign against the evils of gambling." (Aileen Refuerzo)
(January 8, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
