Pasig City says ‘no’ to casino

Pasig City Mayor Vicente Eusebio vowed yesterday not to allow the operation of a casino reportedly being set up at the Metrowalk Mall in Ortigas Avenue.

Eusebio said the heavy influx of legitimate business investors in Pasig City leaves no room for a gambling den in the city.

Earlier, Victorino Obina, a councilman of Barangay Kapasigan, bared the existence of a casino at the mall, which he claimed has been issued a permit by City Hall officials.

Obina called on the residents of Pasig not to allow the city to be tarnished by the existence of a casino.

He said any form of gambling, legal or illegal, is not good for any individual, family or the whole community.

For his part, Eusebio pointed out that he has a long-standing order to the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) to scrutinize carefully business entities applying for permits as some of them may be fronts for gambling activities.

The mayor said he even blocked the entry of small town lottery (STL) in June last year, which was being pushed by the government under the supervision of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor).

Pasig City police chief Senior Superintendent Francisco Uyami vowed to investigate the presence of the casino at Metrowalk.

Plainclothes policemen were deployed in Metrowalk Thursday night to detect if there is indeed gambling in one of the establishments. — Non Alquitran