No need for EO to ban Boracay casinos, Duterte says

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, November 8, said he does not need to sign an executive order (EO) to enforce a ban on casino operations on Boracay Island.

"No, I'll just say that huwag na lang (that I do not need to do that)," the President said, when asked if he is slated to issue an EO enforcing a "no casino" policy in Boracay.

"Anyway, it's a privilege whether I put it in writing or just say it verbally. It is not a requirement that I should really be writing something," he added.

On October 26, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Duterte's EO would be needed to enforce the ban on casinos on the resort island, which reopened on October 26 after a six-month closure to pave the way for its massive clean-up.

Guevarra said the EO was "proper" to direct the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) to revoke the existing licenses of casino operators and stop future casino projects in Boracay.

Duterte said he wants a total ban on casino operations because Boracay residents had called for a "no casino" policy.

"Ang survey dito, ang mga tao ng Boracay, ayaw ng sugal (According to the survey conducted, residents of Boracay do not want gambling)," he said.

"So the voice of the people is the voice of God. If it is the wish of the population here that they do not want a casino, then it will be a no casino," the President stressed.

The President said casinos become "dysfunctional" because crimes like kidnappings and illegal drugs exist in gambling facilities.

He warned casino owners to comply with his order to stop their operations.

"The casino is not good because there are a lot of things will happen. It becomes dysfunctional actually. Kidnappings, drugs and everything [exist in any caso facilities]. And it is a place where most of the gangster around or thereabout or just stay there and commit crimes of sort," he said.

"If I were the owner of the [casino], I should be speculating of what will happen to me if I defy government," he added. (SunStar Philippines)