Gambling ops in Tarlac cathedral compound hit

By Mar T. Supnad

GERONA, Tarlac  – Residents, church-goers and parents have condemned the reopening of a gambling joint featuring drop ball betting tables right inside the St. Catherine Alexandria Cathedral days after the same was raised and shut down by the local police.

The gambling tables are main attractions of the carnival, commonly known as “perya”, put up ahead of the feast day of this town, said newsman Nelson Bolos.

Betting is open to all even to minors.

Video footage of the open gambling inside the cathedral compound and adjacent to the Gerona Catholic School  was uploaded on YouTube by a certain Angel Manicdo last October 22.

Two days later, the local police led police Chief Supt. Ariel Red raided the area.

Operation, however, resumed soon after, which prompted concerned citizens to appeal to

Central Luzon regional police director Chief Supt. Rudy Lacadin to look into the matter.

“No more fear of God and the law”, said one netizen in describing the gambling inside the church’s compound.

A new video of the illegal gambling was again uploaded by Manicdo last November 23 showing the return of the drop ball betting tables.

The YouTube video was entitled “Gerona Scandal Part 2, Gambling again in Gerona cathedral”.