BAGUIO City priest Fr. Manuel Flores said the opposition to all gambling activities is bigger and stronger this time, all in agreement that no activities should be held in the city whether legal or illegal.
Flores said the opposition has been backing moves by Councilor Maylen Yaranon to block the entry of gambling activities in the city.
Flores said the multi-sectoral group composed of concerned citizens, religious groups and advocates are in unison against gambling.
Flores is holding on to an ordinance penned in 1968 approved by then Mayor Luis Lardizabal and Vice Mayor Sinforoso Fangonil imposing stiffer penalties on gambling.
The resolution said there has been so many broken homes caused by gambling as well as crimes, innumerable cases of moral breakdown because of the activity.
A signboard was then placed on suspected gambling cites saying “Gambling is evil, Avoid it! Don’t gamble your money away! All Gambling places are under surveillance of the police.”
In April, Flores also wrote to the council to appeal to aldermen not to approve any e–bingo establishments to operate in the city, imploring to have family oriented tourism in the Summer Capital.
Flores said the group now will “Follow the law and procedures accordingly and we will have to present the sentiments of the people of Baguio.”
All papers will be forwarded to the ad hoc committee established last June 19 at the City Council Session, Flores added.
Last week, the council was forced to review their earlier decision to approve three sites of e-bingo in the city.
A committee of the whole was created, headed by Councilor Elaine Sembrano, who has flipped flopped on her earlier stance to approve gambling operation in the city.
The group raised alarm after the council gave gaming operators the green light to proceed on May 22. (Maria Elena Catajan)