Pampanga execs, clergy assail casino operations

By George Trillo

BACOLOR, Pampanga — Government officials and the Catholic Church here assailed operations of a casino in a hotel and leisure park in this town.

Local officials, led by Gov.r Eddie Panlilio, are against the operations of the VIP Poker Club and Leisure World casino at the King's Royale Hotel and Leisure Park here, citing “immorality issues.”

“We vehemently denounce the operations of the casino even before it opened in October 17 (2009),” Panlilio said.

Panlilio said the province needs more factories and buildings that would offer jobs to the people of Pampanga.

The Archdiocese of San Fernando and the Archdiocesan Council (ACL) of the Laity here also opposed the casino operations.

The ACL said that the casino would have great impact on the culture of the people as this may attract them to gambling.

The gaming facility is being operated by a Japanese and foreign-backed consortium Blue Chip Gaming and Leisure Corporation, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

The operation of VIP Casino came after the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) here unanimously passed Resolution 71 S-2008 on June 24, 2008 that “interposes no objection to the establishment and operation of a VIP Club by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) at the King's Royal Hotel.”

As this developed, Bacolor Mayor Romeo Dungca said that he would meet with the Catholic Church and other individuals opposing the construction of the casino.

“I want to clarify some issues about the VIP Poker Club and I want to discuss with them anything they wanted to be explained,” Dungca said.

Dungca said that the casino is of big help to the economy of his town as five percent of its total earnings would go to the municipal coffers.