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Monday, May 08, 2006
Maambong opposes small-town lottery
A local lawmaker is against the operation of small-town lottery (STL) in Cebu Province.
Provincial Board Member Victor Maambong is also recommending to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to deny applications for issuance of permits for the operation of small-town lottery.
The PCSO, with the support of the Office of the President, came up with small-town lottery answer the chronic problem of jueteng that is prevalent in Northern Luzon provinces and other parts of Luzon.
But for Maambong, STL is not applicable to Cebu because unlike the provinces in Luzon, it does not share their seemingly unsolvable problem of jueteng gambling.
“Therefore, it will be unfounded for the PCSO to permit the operation of STL in the Province of Cebu,” he said.
Maambong pointed out that a few years ago, when jai-alai betting and the illegal numbers game masiao were pervasive in Cebu, teachers and students were observed working on tip sheets during class hours.
Addicted
Some graders were even used and exploited as “messengers” by gambling financiers. Parents too became so addicted to the number games that even their rice money found their way into ticket outlets
Maambong said gambling, such as jai alai and jueteng, likely contributes to the occurrences of thievery, snatchings and other petty crimes.
It can also spark crimes against persons and properties and was even noted to increase dropout rate in schools where the attributing reason is the students’ misguided willingness to try their luck in jai alai gambling.
“STL, like other forms of number games, encourages people to leave everything to chance thus reinforcing unhelpful Cebuano behavior “basin diay bai,” and insidiously promotes laziness,” he said.
Maambong’s resolution is among the items to be discussed in today’s regular PB session. (MBG)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (May 8, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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