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BIG RALLY, NIGHTLY VIGIL AIM TO CLOSE DOWN NEWLY-OPENED CASINO

Updated: June 21, 1993 05:00 PM GMT
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Some 15,000 opponents of a newly-opened casino protested June 15 in the main thoroughfare leading to the five-star hotel that houses the casino in this northern Mindanao city.

Led by Archbishop Jesus Tuquib of Cagayan de Oro and the city´s mayor, Pablo Magtajas, the rallyists lambasted Philippine President Fidel Ramos for not doing enough to stop the opening June 8 of the casino, which is run by the government´s Philippine Games and Amusement Corporation (PAGCOR).

In an open letter addressed to Ramos and endorsed by the archdiocese´s priests -- "representing 45 parishes" -- Archbishop Tuquib stressed that the casino "will gradually and surely destroy many of our positive and moral values."

"We want to express in very strong terms our conviction that the spirit of restraint and dedication to honest work is still the fundamental dimension of human existence," the letter said.

The letter reminded Ramos that he had said Jan. 12 that PAGCOR officials "have to operate in areas where there is public acceptance."

PAGCOR´s plan to open a casino at Pryce Plaza Hotel six months ago was thwarted by the city government, the religious sector and city residents led by the People´s Alliance Against the Casino.

The city council passed an ordinance banning casinos here. However, PAGCOR and Pryce Hotel filed cases in the court seeking to annul the city law.

The Court of Appeals ruled in favor of PAGCOR in March saying that the ordinance usurped the power of the president of the Philippines who has sole authority over PAGCOR.

"While we recognize the benefits of casino-raised money to help civic and social projects, we too recognize, that in Cagayan de Oro there is a different and better way of raising this money," the letter said.

Archbishop Tuquib proposed "cooperation among (the members) of the business community and city hall to improve tax collections, encouraging savings among the people and promoting small and medium-scale entrepreneurship."

On June 8, about 150 guests, mostly military officials, were treated to a sumptuous reception at the casino´s formal opening, while 2,000 opponents held a protest rally. Most of the city´s business elite opted to skip the affair to avoid the raging conflict between PAGCOR and the casino oppositionists.

PAGCOR Chair Alicia Reyes brushed off the protest as "mere noises," citing a survey by the Social Weather Station, a private research group, that she said shows 60 percent of the city´s 300,000 residents favor the casino.

Reyes said the casino is aimed at the tourist market, which includes potential business investors, and thus will bring benefits and business opportunities to the city.

The Cagayan de Oro prelate, however, countered that the burden of improving and preserving the city rests on the shoulders of local political, business and civic leaders -- and not on PAGCOR.

"The arrogance of Reyes will surely undermine the image of President Ramos who is known for being partial to people empowerment," Congressman Erasmo Damasing of Cagayan de Oro said.

If Ramos does not close the casino, opposition against it will spread throughout northern Mindanao, Damasing added.

Since the opening, city residents, priests, Religious and local government officials have been picketing nightly in front of the hotel to pressure PAGCOR to remove all its gambling paraphernalia from the city.

Monsignor Rodolfo Roa, archdiocesan vicar general, said that representatives from elsewhere in Misamis Oriental province and the nearby island province of Camiguin had already joined the picket lines and parishes in neighboring Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte provinces were ready to do the same.

Mayor Magtajas told UCA News, "We are succeeding." He said that based on his sources, the number of casino customers has gone down.

Church and local government officials vow more and bigger anti-casino rallies until Ramos and PAGCOR back down and close the casino.

END

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