BAGUIO CITY—Residents and religious leaders here are against an electronic bingo outlet opening within the Maharlika Livelihood Center, and called on local officials not to renew permits issued to e-bingo outlets in the Baguio Center Mall and along Marcos Highway.
In a strongly-worded letter to Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan, the Baguio-Benguet Ecumenical Group urged local officials not to issue permits and licenses to e-bingo establishments here after the City Council endorsed the application of the e-bingo operator at Maharlika to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., the government regulator for gambling.
Bishop Carlito J. Cenzon, Philian Louise Weygan, Dr. Ma. Reylita C. Calimlim, Dr. Milandre Rusgal, Pastor Jonathan Erardo, Pastor Abraham Luis, Rebecca A. Taylor, Rev. Sharon Langbis, Geraldine Fiag-oy and Alicia Pacsi Dizon signed the letter to Domogan.
The group learned that during the City Council’s suspension of rules last December 12, approved the Maharlika e-bingo operation despite the anti-gambling policy of the local government.
Councilors Peter Fianza and Maria Victoria Mylen G. Yaranon abstained during the voting to approve the endorsement for e-bingo operator at the establishment in the city’s central business district area.
“We feel that the City Council, by approving the issuance of permit or recommendation to Pagcor for e-bingo in the city, is not supportive of improving the morals, health, comfort and peace in our beloved city,” the religious leaders wrote.
The group also said e-bingo or any form of gambling in any part of Baguio “will continue to corrupt and degrade our people and our city, which has always consistently maintained a character of being an anti-gambling city.”
The religious leaders consider Baguio as a religious and an educational center, “thus, it is in the protection of the present and future generations that we vehemently object to the operation of establishments that become temptations to the values formation, moral and character building of the faithful members and the students as well.”
“Gambling when available becomes a choice… between being in gambling dens rather in school, work, home or fruitful endeavors,” they said. “It is a choice between betting or using money for food and basic necessities. It is a choice between gambling time as against fruitful time spent with family and friends. It is a choice between believing in chance of becoming an honest earner.”
The city government should instead “support family-oriented tourism, honest and clean businesses, for responsible public officials and city employees and protected schoolchildren, students and families,” they added.