Sunday, June 22, 2008 Bingo sa Barangay may be regulated: councilor By Rimaliza Opiña
A LOCAL court may have declared that the Bingo sa Barangay fund raising activity is legal, but its operation may still be regulated.
"If it is a fund-raising activity, then there should be a limit to it," said Councilor Richard Cariño, minutes after the public hearing on the proposed test-run of small-town lottery (STL) in Baguio City.
If the aim of barangays that passed resolutions to operate the barangay bingo is to merely raise funds, operation should be limited to only a number of days, not perpetual, Cariño said, adding that this is where the City Council can come in-regulation of the barangay bingo.
Widely criticized for allegedly being a copycat of the illegal numbers game jueteng, bingo sa barangay is under copyright of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC).
The group allows operation of the bingo under a franchise agreement. At least 53 barangays passed resolutions asking the ABC authority to operate barangay bingo, said ABC president Joel Alangsab.
Lat June 17, the City Council committee on laws held a public hearing on STL to weigh public view whether to allow operation or not. Only those opposed to gambling appeared, however.
The committee is set to issue a report on the proposal, but Cariño hinted the committee might recommend denial following the disinterest shown by the proponents as well as the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and the overwhelming opposition shown by some groups.
