Council defers e-casino nod

THE Cebu City Council yesterday deferred approval of a proposed resolution allowing a company to operate a Pagcor-accredited Internet casino station in one of the barangays in the north district.

The proposal’s author, Councilor Augustus Pe, had an argument with Councilor Sisinio Andales over whether or not there is a need to conduct a public hearing on the casino station’s operation.

During the council’s regular session yesterday, Andales said there is a need to conduct a public hearing before allowing Queen City E-gaming Corp. to operate an Internet casino station in Paseo Phase 2 in Panagdait, Barangay Kasambagan.

“It’s gambling and we need to have the sentiments of other sectors. We don’t want charges to be filed against us for not hearing them out,” he said.

But Pe said a public hearing is not necessary as one had already been conducted in the barangay when the company applied for a permit.

Report

He also said that a committee report about the matter was already submitted by Councilor Raul Alcoseba, who chairs the council’s committee on games, amusements and
sports.

“Kung mag-public hearing pa, the committee report will be useless. Also, why do we have to let it go through a public hearing when it already went to the barangay.

Besides, ang affected man ana is ang barangay ra man, usa ka barangay. Di man ni para sa tibuok syudad (The committee report would be rendered useless by a public hearing.

Besides, there is no need to consult the public as only one barangay will be affected),” he said.

In the committee report, Alcoseba recommended the approval of the resolution but he raised the need to ensure that the operation of the casino will not be located near schools and colleges.

Andales insisted, however, a public hearing is needed to hear the views of the public.

The argument prompted Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young, presiding officer of the council session, to request for the deferment of the resolution’s approval.

Pe gave in, but pointed out that there is no reason to further delay the approval of the resolution.

If approved, the Queen City E-gaming Corp. will be among the more than 180 bingo parlors and e-games Internet cafes that the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) operates in major cities across the country.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on March 05, 2011.