Baguio police ordered:Stop bingo, gambling

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan on Monday issued an order to the Baguio City Police Office to clamp down on illegal gambling activities in the city including those in the guise of fund-raising activities like the barangay-run Bingo sa Barangay.

            

During the department heads’ meeting last Monday, the mayor asked the police to implement city council Resolution No. 188 series of 2013 carrying said order emphasizing that said resolution takes precedence over any barangay resolution justifying the conduct of said bingo operations.

            

“That is why I approved the resolution to mean it as a directive that we do not have any choice but to stop all of these (gambling activities),” the mayor said.

City police director Jesus Cambay Jr. said they did not close the Bingo sa Barangay operation particularly along Kayang St. at the city market as the barangay showed its resolution justifying the operations but Domogan said the city resolution must be enforced as barangay resolutions cannot amend city laws and directives.

In the light of the mayor’s pronouncements, Cambay promised to undertake the closure as soon as possible.

            

The mayor maintained that the conduct of bingo activities, although declared legal by the courts, must be subject to regulations by the local government to ensure that that only harmless bingo games are played.

The city council recently approved the resolution asking for the closure of illegal gambling operations including those in Kayang and Rizal Park with proponent Councilor Leandro Yangot Jr. noting that many of these activities use the fund-raising ploy.