Illegal gambling in Baguio City
>> Thursday, June 10, 2021
EDITORIAL
Illegal
gambling in Baguio had been an on and off situation over the years depending on
who held power.
The issue this time is purportedly how to stop drop-ball operations in the city.
A city government press dispatch said mayor Benjamin Magalong ordered again the Baguio City Police Office to stop this form of illegal gambling and urged barangays to do their part in making sure bingo social activities will not be used as front for illegal gambling.
The mayor said he had no qualms over bingo social activities as these help barangays raise funds to buy equipment like computers and CCTVs. “Ang problema, bingo ang nasa harapan pero sa likod dropball,” he said.
In September 2019, the mayor nearly rejected bingo social fund-raising proposal from barangays due to similar reported incidents of bingo-cum-drop ball gambling.
However after considering plight of barangays needing funds to sustain their programs, the mayor agreed with Association of Barangay Councils president councilor Michael Lawana to allow bingo social subject to strict compliance with administrative order 79 series of 2012 which sets the guidelines on bingo social activities.
As per the AO issued during the term of former mayor Mauricio Domogan, barangays are required to submit a resolution and a project proposal detailing where the event’s proceeds will go and an after-activity audited financial report.
No persons below 18 years of age will be allowed to play or loiter around the place and that prizes must all be in-kind.
As per ABC endorsement, bingo social activities must be confined within premises of the barangay and must not include any other kind of illegal gambling or games.
The BCPO was tasked to monitor activities to ensure no gambling or illegal games are allowed and the barangay must ensure peace and order and sanitation are observed within the premises.
Violation of any of the conditions would automatically revoke the endorsement.
Now, there is another form of gambling which had been going on in Baguio like in other parts of the country for so long. For many years, jueteng operators had been raking in money by pretending they are running Small Town Lottery Operations when in fact, STL is just a front for jueteng.
The issue this time is purportedly how to stop drop-ball operations in the city.
A city government press dispatch said mayor Benjamin Magalong ordered again the Baguio City Police Office to stop this form of illegal gambling and urged barangays to do their part in making sure bingo social activities will not be used as front for illegal gambling.
The mayor said he had no qualms over bingo social activities as these help barangays raise funds to buy equipment like computers and CCTVs. “Ang problema, bingo ang nasa harapan pero sa likod dropball,” he said.
In September 2019, the mayor nearly rejected bingo social fund-raising proposal from barangays due to similar reported incidents of bingo-cum-drop ball gambling.
However after considering plight of barangays needing funds to sustain their programs, the mayor agreed with Association of Barangay Councils president councilor Michael Lawana to allow bingo social subject to strict compliance with administrative order 79 series of 2012 which sets the guidelines on bingo social activities.
As per the AO issued during the term of former mayor Mauricio Domogan, barangays are required to submit a resolution and a project proposal detailing where the event’s proceeds will go and an after-activity audited financial report.
No persons below 18 years of age will be allowed to play or loiter around the place and that prizes must all be in-kind.
As per ABC endorsement, bingo social activities must be confined within premises of the barangay and must not include any other kind of illegal gambling or games.
The BCPO was tasked to monitor activities to ensure no gambling or illegal games are allowed and the barangay must ensure peace and order and sanitation are observed within the premises.
Violation of any of the conditions would automatically revoke the endorsement.
Now, there is another form of gambling which had been going on in Baguio like in other parts of the country for so long. For many years, jueteng operators had been raking in money by pretending they are running Small Town Lottery Operations when in fact, STL is just a front for jueteng.
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