CAGAYAN de Oro City Councilor Teodulfo Lao Jr. said that with the list of illegal gambling personalities, the sincerity of law enforcers in the campaign against illegal gambling will now be put to test.
Officials at City Hall and the Provincial Capitol said the list drawn up by the group of accredited lotto agents is a welcome development, saying the 33 alleged financiers and coordinators should be investigated, charged and, if found guilty, put behind bars.
The Misamis Oriental-Cagayan de Oro Lotto Agents Assocation Inc. (MOCLAAI) had come up with a list of 33 individuals composed of village chiefs, local officials, policemen and businessmen.
The group, however, declined to make the list public.
"Maayo ni nga development nga dunay identified personalities dinhi nato makita ang sincerity sa mga law enforcers," Lao said.
Lao said public officials who are involved in illegal gambling activities are liable under the anti-illegal gambling law.
"Kung wala pa gihapon action ang police meaning dili sila sincere sa ilang trabaho. Dako og penalty kung public official involved sa illegal gambling," Lao said.
Lao also rebuked councilor Leon Gan who accused the City Government of issuing business permits to illegal lotto operators in the city.
Lao said Gan’s assertions have no basis.
Lao challenged Gan to provide the names or operators who have been issued with business permits by the City Treasurer's Office.
"Wala man siya gihatag nga exact name kinsa tong natagaan og business permits. Ang iya basi ra man sa iyang nadunggan sa committee meeting atong 2013. Kung natagaan og permits dili na unta illegal," Lao said.
"Maghatag siya (Gan) og pangalan para matutukan ug aron matagaan og aksyon og duna bay gikinahanglan nga legislative measure nga himoon sa City Council," Lao added.
For his part, Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny Emano vowed to go all out in the efforts against illegal gambling personalities and to set side security risks just to provide information about illegal lotto operation in the province.
"This is a good work and we will work and act on the list. Kung madakpan kasuhan gayud," Emano said.
Emano recently penned an executive order creating a task force to go after illegal lotto operators in the province.
Meanwhile, Northern Mindanao police spokesperson Surki Sereñas commended Moclaai for coming up with the list which will aid authorities in putting an end to the illegal gambling menace.
"I hope it could help in filing criminal charges or in whatever means it could help to put an end to illegal gambling," Sereñas said.