Protest greets casino in GenSan

NO TO GAMBLING --- More than 200 people led by Catholic priests and nuns from the Diocese of Marbel stage a prayer rally last February 25 to protest the opening of the Grand Imperial Casino in Barangay Lagao. Church leaders alleged that there have been no proper consultations before the gambling facility was allowed to operate. (PNA PHOTO BY RICHELYN GUBALANI, MINDANAO EXPOSE')

GENERAL SANTOS CITY --- Catholic church leaders and members of various civic groups denounced the opening here last February 25 of a casino operated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor). 

More than 200 people led by priests and nuns from the Diocese of Marbel staged a prayer rally last February 25 in front of the Grand Imperial Casino in Barangay Lagao to protest its operations.

The rally coincided with the soft opening of the casino, which is situated at the Robinsons mall compound along the Bula-Lagao Road here.

Fr. Angel Buenavides, vicar general of the Diocese of Marbel, condemned the “abrupt” opening of the casino, which he said was given the green light to operate without proper consultations.

Buenavides said the diocese had not been informed and consulted about the matter and that they were surprised when announcements came recently regarding its opening.

“We acknowledge that the local governments have the final say whether to accept these ventures or not but the problem here was, it made a decision without properly consulting its constituents,” he said during the rally.

Buenavides said the diocese strongly opposed the operation of the Grand Imperial Casino as it will "only promote gambling" and "encourage other immoral activities such as prostitution."

Benjamin Sumog-oy, action officer of the Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement-GenSan, said operation of the casino could result in the surge in crimes and other illegal activities. 

Sumog-oy also expressed skepticism about whether the casino can contribute to the local economy. 

“The supposed income that it will bring to the city will not be enough to justify the harm that it will bring to our communities,” he said.

Councilor Franklin Gacal, Jr., the chairperson of the City Council’s committee on games and amusement, said the City Council has already conducted consultations with various sectors before the legislative body decided to allow the casino to operate.

Gacal said the concurrence resolution, which was passed on November 12 last year, was unanimously approved by Council members and did not meet any objection from City Mayor Ronnel Rivera.

“We believe that the presence of the casino in the city will further boost local tourism and our economy and will especially create jobs for our residents,” he said in an interview. (RICHELYN GUBALANI, PNA, MINDANAO EXPOSE')