Not taking the gamble

DAGUPAN’S Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) bears watching on how it will decide on a business enterprise’s application for a franchise to operate online gambling in the city.

Considering the extent of illegal gambling in the city – with jueteng cum jai-alai (jai-teng), drop-ball, and hataw thriving in many barangays – it would really be no big surprise if the request is granted. Councilors could very well justify that at least with the franchised and registered online gambling business, the city will be able to properly collect taxes.

But it would be folly for the council to approve the proposal now that one courageous barangay chairman has stood up and renounced it in her patch. The SP members would learn well to listen to Barangay Herrero-Perez Salvacion Bravo who did not simply recall the permit inadvertently issued to the applicant but brilliantly laid out the reason why she is not allowing gambling in her turf:

“(The) present barangay administration strongly believes that the existence of gambling activities threaten our residents’ regard for the values of dignified work, perseverance, and thrift since instant monetary gains from such activities are being equated to success, thereby becoming a widespread social menace and source of corruption.”

Gambling – illegal or not, old-fashioned or in ‘hi-tech’ guise – will not flourish where those in authority will not take it. Local government officials and the police not just in Dagupan but around the province as well should be taking the cue from Bravo, unless of course they do not want to stop being corrupt.

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Tales

FOLLOWING the tragic plane crash that killed DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, exposed was an alleged attempt by Usec. Rico Puno to secure purported “confidential documents” both at the DILG offices and condo of Robredo.  Turns out Puno, Robredo’s undersecretary, had a clearance to do it from no less than President Aquino himself.  Mr. Aquino was quoted as saying “He (Puno) is my eyes and ears at DILG.” And Puno got unsolicited help from Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who said:  “If Puno did it (enter Robredo’s office), nothing wrong there.  Puno is the No. 2 man at DILG.”

Is there an iota of truth to rumors that at the time of Robredo’s death, the DILG boss was investigating Puno on his alleged involvement in jueteng and in a perceived bidding scam to buy guns for the police force? If ever there is, Robredo brought it with him in the waters off Masbate on that fateful day of August 18.

As the saying goes, dead men tell no tales.

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