“My apologies for not continuing with this series for a week. At the course of writing, I began entertaining the thought of running again, which I had no intention to. We are in the midst of activities towards those who needed help with substance use disorder and engaging in a political campaign would have left behind hose whom we have been helping. I started this series as I am often asked if I was running again. Now that the filing of candidacy is past me, I can now freely write”
It cannot be denied that gambling is one source of the government for social services. A check with the financial reports of both Pagcor and PCSO bear the figures of how both the national and local governments derive funds from which financial assistance is provided for the people. They come in the form of ambulances, medical assistance and even infrastructure. In Cagayan de Oro, we have all forms of gambling, including the illegal numbers game. And so it was not surprising that Pagcor made a second attempt to operate a casino, this time with the blessings of the local government.
But we were more surprised that then President Arroyo heeded the letter prepared by us, not proceed with the establishment of a casino. A last-minute plea to have a meeting with the proponent failed as the President had already read the letter and called then Pagcor chairman to say “Efren, I heard you are putting up a casino in Cagayan de Oro, stop it!”
Overjoyed, we had streamers prepared and displayed in major areas of the city with the words “Thank you President GMA for stopping the Casino in CDO.” The disgruntled proponents with their City Hall sponsors quickly tore them down.
But greed has no shame. Last year, we saw the resurrection of the issue. And what galled me was to learn that our local officials were not only in favor of it. They were actually lobbying for a casino. No right thinking and well-meaning politician to my mind will ever endorse a casino.
Especially in Cagayan de Oro where we have all the gambling operations available, legal and illegal. And imagine having the Archbishop tempted with millions for an addiction facility so that he will endorse or not go against the establishment of a casino?
While millions made a bee line for lotto outlets, we saw more, filing their certificates of candidacies in the hope of getting a slice of the multi-million slice of the pie of public funds, getting permits and contracts. How can one not get sick of a newly-elected councilor, literally accepting a thick envelope under the table in a hotel lobby? If the exchange was a legal one, why hand it under the table. So I will not vote for him?
So we continue to gamble the affairs of running our city to those who see public office as a way to enrich themselves. Someone once even said that it is easier to win in an election than to win in a lotto. The thing is, betting in the lotto may give an LGU an ambulance, but a crooked politician getting elected results to more of us ending up in hospitals.
Gambling will never benefit anyone except the gambling lord or the gambling operator. It takes more than it gives and all the losers suffer in silence as only the winners, who are a few, if ever will talk about it. Even the World Health Organization has declared gambling as another form of addiction. And guess why our Congress did not include casino revenues as part of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, while other legitimate business gets flagged for amounts beyond their regular transactions with banks.
Tragic but true. As each one of us are bedazzled by the possibility of earning millions beyond our capacity to earn, this coming elections will most probably end up the same. Unless of course, no one will buy votes. Tan-awon ta be.