La Trinidad mayor orders cops: Stop carnival games

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Mayor Artemio Galwan ordered last week town police to stop ongoing operations of a mini-carnival here due to mounting complaints of residents.

“I have instructed the police stop the carnival operations at Barangay Betag,” Galwan told local media.

Earlier, the municipal council asked his office to order a stop to the mini-carnival operations, saying this lured minors to engage illegal gambling.

Councilors said most of those who went to the carnival were minors who dropped by before or after attending classes.

Councilor Jim Botiwey said carnival operations were not good social activities, as these involved games of chance.

Barangays allow carnivals to operate as a fund-raising activity. This are however, allowed only during occasions like barangay fiestas.

The barangay council of Betag, in an earlier request for a permit to operate a mini-carnival said the activity is aimed at raising funds to be used to pay additional police force auxiliaries and to finance the repair of dilapidated streetlights there.

The carnival operator was given a permit by the barangay last June 7 to operate legally for two months.