Tuesday, January 22, 2008 Mayor seizes e-casino operation By Reynaldo G. Navales
ANGELES City Mayor Francis Nepomuceno said the controversial online casino located along MacArthur Highway in Barangay Salapungan this city has no permit to operate yet.
Nepomuceno said Roxas Sangalang, chief of Business Permit and Licensing Division, has not yet issued a business permit to Emaja Internet Gaming Enterprise, the operator the electronic casino (e-casino) in the area.
Nepomuceno said the local government does not condone the proliferation of illegal gambling in city.
Angeles City Engineer Officer Donato Dizon disclosed that a certain Lumanog requested for a certification regarding the distance between the Eloisa Building where the on-line casino is located and the Angeles University Foundation (AUF) for the possible setting up of an Internet cafe.
Dizon clarified that he has no inkling that an online gambling facility will be established in the area.
He stressed that the City Government makes sure that the existing national laws and city ordinances are being strictly followed, especially on the prohibition of establishing gaming facilities near schools, churches, and other institutions.
The business permit of the Internet casino was reportedly put on hold after AUF Chancellor Emmanuel Angeles and the university's students expressed strong objection against its operation.
The E-Casino provides an online gaming facility that includes Baccarat, Black Jack and Roulette and carried the logo of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor).
On January 16, scores of students from AUF staged a protest rally in front of the E-Casino to stop its operations noting that such establishment has no right to operate near schools and churches.
Angeles said the Internet casino has violated the zoning ordinance, as it is located adjacent to at least three schools.
Emmanuel Jacinto, owner the Emaja Internet Gaming Enterprise said has not violated any law.
Jacinto said Pagcor granted the enterprise a permit to operate an Internet casino in the area.
