[ Manila Bulletin Online ] November 11, 2008
By MIKE GUIMBATAN JR.
BAGUIO CITY — For the nth time, city officials and residents here have said No! to the John Hay Casino.
The city council on November 4 expressed "vigorous opposition" to such plan barely a week after a loosely formed movement called the Baguio Multi-sectoral Group (BMG) called on city officials to prevent the entry of casinos in this mountain resort city.
"Any plan to put up an activity that would corrupt the family, destroy the moral fiber and offer wrong choices to the people will create a societal problem in the city," the council resolution noted.
"It is imperative that the city take an aggressive action to immediately stop any plan to put up a casino or any gambling activity in any form or guise in the city including within the Club John Hay."
Organizers of the BMG, which includes religious leaders from mainstream evangelical churches here, earlier revealed that two members of the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) board of directors allegedly revealed plans to set up a gambling center inside Camp John Hay.
The BMG, which has spearheaded anti-casino and anti-gambling crusades as well as countering oppressive public policy in the past, invoked a provision of City Resolution 362-1994 which provides that "the BCDA shall ensure that only wholesome, family-oriented entertainment and recreation facilities will be established within Camp John Hay."
Both the BMG and the City Council cited Resolution No. 362 that set the 19 conditionalities for the city council approval of the Master Development Plan for Club John Hay as formulated by the BCDA in 1994.
They said that Condition No. 2 (on entertainment activities) provides that "the BCDA shall ensure that only wholesome, family-oriented entertainment and recreational activities are conducted within the Zone." The condition expressly states that "no casino operations shall definitely be allowed under any guise or form."
The body also invoked Resolution No. 221 series of 1989 "which condemns all forms of illegal gambling in the city and calls on all concerned government agencies to eradicate and stop the proliferation of gambling activities in the city."
"The presence of gambling activity runs counter to the moral standards which our heritage has impressed upon our people," the council noted.
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