AMID CHURCH RESISTANCE

URDANETA CITY—In an apparent move to quell a growing protest from the Church and religious sector, outgoing Mayor Amadeo Perez Jr. clarified that the resolution of the city council which he approved merely interposed no objection to the establishment of a gambling casino here and should not be interpreted to mean that a casino will soon operate in the city.

Perez, who will be succeeded by his son Amadeo ‘Bubom’ Perez IV on June 30 after completing three terms of office, said the proponent of the project, Thunderbird Corporation, will still have to secure a resolution from the provincial board and hurdle the objection of the Catholic Church to its project.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas is leading the opposition to the establishment of the casino not only in Urdaneta City but also in San Leonardo Nueva Ecija.

The mayor pointed out that the corporation that proposed the operation of the casino at Lisland Rainforest Resort in Barangay San Vicente East has yet to secure a franchise from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and any other regulation body.

The archbishop is supported by other bishops in Pangasinan, La Union and Nueva Ecija, notably Bishop Jacinto Jose of the Urdaneta diocese, including other  members of the clergy.

All were reported to have signed a manifesto urging President-elect Benigno Aquino III to stop the planned establishment of gambling casino in Urdaneta City as well as San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija.

The bishops are confident that with President Aquino at the helm, the chances of a casino being established in the two places are nil. The new President’s closeness with the Church, especially Archbishop Villegas is a public knowledge.

It will be recalled that Aquino, then still a candidate for President, attended the installation rites of Archbishop Villegas in Dagupan City in February.

The clergy maintained that the establishment of gambling casinos across the country will erode the moral fiber of the nation and will promote the evils of corruption, prostitution, sloth and non-productive activities.

But on the other hand, exponents of casinos see the latter as opportunities to create economic stimulus, create jobs and attract more investors.

There were previous moves seeking the establishment of gambling casinos in Urdaneta City, Dagupan and even Calasiao but these were torpedoed by the vigilance of the Catholic Church led by Villegas predecessor, retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz.

Thunderbird Corporation is behind the Thunderbird Resort in Poro Point, La Union where a gambling casino operates. LM

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