Friday, January 18, 2008 Editorial: Angeles City's E-Casino
LAST Tuesday, officials of the Angeles University Foundation (AUF) were restless. On board two vehicles, they proceeded to the Eloisa Building located along McArthur Highway corner Pandan Road in Barangay Salapungan in Angeles City.
AUF chancellor Emmanuel Angeles and AUF president Ricardo Pama pinpointed to journalists the E-Casino, which carries the logo of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. The two were evidently furious to learn that the online gambling hall is set to operate near their school.
On Wednesday, AUF officials, instructors and students marched towards the E-Casino. They carried streamers and placards protesting the presence in the area of the online gambling hall, which, reports stated, will feature slot machines, and games of baccarat, black jack and roulette.
Chancellor Angeles said the E-Casino is located only about 150 meters from AUF. But the owner of the gambling hall and his "friends" say that it was 206 meters away from the university. If the issue involves only the metric system or the E-Casino's distance from AUF, a simple geodetic measurement might resolve the disagreement. But the issue is beyond mere distance.
The message on the streamers and placards of students was clear:
Gambling not too far -- whether 150 meters or 206 meters away from their university -- is against the law and public morals.
Even if the E-Casino does not violate the 200-meter distance rule, insofar as AUF is concerned, it is still less than 100 meters away from a Montessori, the Iglesia Ni Cristo Church, the Mother of Perpetual Help School of Midwifery, and the Philippine Women's University.
AUF officials and students' claim that the facility "is a direct affront to public morals and may provide possible "distraction" to students in the area" has already reached the ears of some city officials.
Councilor Jesus Sangil, for instance, has already denounced the establishment of the online casino and has vowed to file a resolution in the City Council to oppose its operation in its current location.
He said its establishment even violated the provisions of the Local Government Code of 1991, which include mandatory consultation with the local government unit.
Aside from national laws, Sangil said the E-Casino also violates existing city ordinances that prohibit the establishment of gaming facilities near schools and other institutions of learning.
A petition for a temporary restraining order has been filed against the E-Casino.
