MANILA (UCAN): “We cannot be proud to say that Baguio is a peaceful city if there is havoc in many families due to gambling activities if approved by people who were elected to take care of the common good of the populace,” Bishop Victor Bendico of Baguio, said in reaction to plans by authorities in Benguet province to legalise online gambling.
Gambling is not illegal in the Philippines and is regulated by an administrative body. However, some forms of gambling, such as the playing of electronic bingo and certain other e-games, do not fall under the general law and need to be legalised by local governments.
Lawmakers and officials in the province are seeking to raise tax revenue to cushion the effect of the Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic by introducing a by-law allowing the playing of electronic and traditional bingo and other e-games in the region.
‘Gambling is just like drugs. You need more and more drugs the moment you begin taking them. The same with gambling. The moment you start, the more money you need for the habit’
Bishop Victor Bendico
“Gambling is just like drugs. You need more and more drugs the moment you begin taking them. The same with gambling. The moment you start, the more money you need for the habit,” Bishop Bendico said in a pastoral letter, adding that it wasted money that was supposed to feed the family.
The Philippines has yet to overcome the challenges brought by the pandemic but some government officials wanted to “perpetuate another form of evil,” the bishop lamented.
“While people are anxious and downcast due to the crisis brought about by Covid-19, we are being faced with more degrading and troublesome news about of our councillors (wanting) to have bingo stalls in our locality,” he said, adding that the diocese would oppose any form of gambling.
Baguio City officials claimed on the local government website that introducing online gaming “does not go against national laws and would be strictly regulated.” They also argued that gambling online would protect gamers from possible Covid-19 infection.
Bishop Bendico, however, said the presence of gambling in any form in Baguio City and the province would disturb peace and order.
