Religious leaders oppose STL in Baguio hearing

By Paul Rillorta

BAGUIO CITY – Religious leaders here signified their opposition to Small Town Lottery (STL) during a public hearing here at city hall Wednesday but the city council’s committee on laws said it will still make its recommendations on the matter.

The drift – let the people decide. City council committee on laws chairman Richard Carino earlier invited 12 interested proponents of STL including Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office representative for Northern Luzon Ernieli Dancel, Catholic Bishop Carlito Cenzon, Islam Imam Bedejim Abdulah and other interested groups to air their sentiments regarding the numbers game.

Operators said there were small earnings in STL operations, but one operator admitted they are interested in the market of bettors in the city for its potential of earning millions in daily sales.

A jueteng cabo also said bet collectors and cabos are assured of jobs if STL is permitted to run in the city.

The cabo said since jueteng stopped, a lot of them were jobless.

Dancel said there was a big difference between STL and jueteng but some sectors during the hearing said STL and jueteng were one and the same.

Cenzon said: “We have created a monster in our midst, our own brothers and sisters are incompetent to earn a living because we have allowed that disease to spread.

Cenzon was referring to gambling as a “social disease” which is now deeply rooted. “If jueteng was not able to get legalization, then there must be questions. What are the reasons why jueteng is illegal up to now? We have to attack the root causes,” he added.

“If we legalize that without covering the reasons that makes jueteng illegal then we are doing a cover up. We are riding on the STL which is legal to hide something that is stinking, so it’s a moral problem.”

Imam Bedejim meanwhile said the Islamic position on the matter said “intoxicants and gambling are the footsteps of the devil. Malinaw po sa Islam na pinag-babawal ang pagsusugal, whether it is money or wealth, the point is it’s taking advantage of the hopelessness of people, taking advantage of others.”

He added “gambling according to Islam is a sign of desperation”.