LINGAYEN–At least 23 of the 48 towns and cities in Pangasinan have given the green light for the operation of jail-alai betting stations, another gambling activity which many believe has taken the place of the illegal numbers game jueteng.

Senior Superintendent Rosueto Ricaforte, police provincial director, reported last week that 23 local governments have already issued business permits to Meridien Vista Gaming Corporation (MVGC), giving the company the license to operate off-fronton betting stations in these areas.

The permits were issued even as the Games and Amusement Board (GAB), through the Office of Commissioner Muhammad Aquil Tamano, has clarified that it has not issued any permit or franchise to MVGC, a company headed by Charlie Atong Ang, a known former crony of former President Joseph Estrada.

Ricaforte told newsmen that police authorities raided some of these betting stations at the beginning of their operations on the belief that these were fronts for jueteng which the provincial government has ordered to be stopped.

However, the respective managers of the betting stations were able to present valid business permits duly issued by town and city mayors.

The managers also showed a copy of an injunction order in connection with a civil case which prevents GAB and the Philippine National Police from stopping the gaming operations of MVGC.

“We cannot do anything if they are legal,” said Ricaforte.

The injunction order dated March 23, 2011 was issued by Judge Conrado Manauls of Branch 08 of the Regional Trial Court, Second Judicial Region in Aparri, Cagayan in connection with the case filed by MVGC when GAB issued a Cease and Desist Order on the same date stopping the operations of the company’s off-fronton betting stations outside the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority.

GAB, represented by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), opposed MVGC’s prayer for the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order and Writ of Preliminary Injunction and is now poised to question the legality of the TRO and Writ of Preliminary Injunction, including the filing of a motion for reconsideration and/or a certiorari petition in the appellate court.

Ricaforte said their hands are tied with an injunction order, which initially had a time frame of non-extendable period of 17 days but has already been removed when the TRO was upgraded to a Writ of Preliminary Injunction.

He added that the order appears to be in effect not just in Cagayan but the whole of the country.

This means that the injunction will be valid until the issue is resolved.

The existing franchise of MVGC was earlier obtained from the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority by virtue of the CEZA Law.

However, the franchise has since been revoked by CEZA prompting MVGC to sue CEZA in an Aparri court and won a favorable decision upholding the franchise.

Ricaforte declined to comment on speculations that the jai-alai operation is a front for the continued operation of jueteng.

The jail-alai betting stations have reportedly tapped displaced jueteng collectors, who are now collecting bets from the public wearing the company uniform and corresponding identification cards.

Governor Amado Espino Jr. has earlier said he will endorse any action that will be taken by the police and the National Bureau of Investigation in stopping the operations of these off-fronton betting stations.

There is also a pending resolution in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan proposed by Board Member Alfonso Bince Jr. seeking to stop the jai-alai betting operations in the province.–LM

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