Cardinal Vidal sets battle vs. jai alai return
Balita News Services
on several fronts against jai alai, the so-called game of a thousand
thrills.
Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal will lead a march-rally on
Aug. 29 or earlier, depending on developments.
He met with political,religious and civic leaders here Tuesday
at the Archbishop's Palace to map out strategies against jai alai.
Acting Cebu City Mayor Renato Osmena is supporting the cardinal
in this campaign, along with lawyers who will focus on getting the
Supreme Court to rethink its position on jai alai.
The Provincial Board (PB) approved on first reading last Monday
a proposed ordinance limiting the creation of jai alai betting stations
and lotto outlets in the province.
"A society built on the foundation of speculations and gambling,
living in the expectation of an instant bonanza, leads itself to moral
debasement and to the vice of indolence," said PB Member Victor
Maambong, who filed the draft ordinance.
The last time a multisectoral campaign like this was launched,
it was against the opening of lotto outlets in Cebu.
Lotto outlets,however, operate today on the strength of a Court
of Appeals ruling in their favor.
As with the campaign against lotto, the fight will cite moral,
social and legal grounds against jai alai.
The meeting came just a few days after the cardinal said he was
getting exhausted fighting gambling and not seeing any lasting results.
A convenors' group was formed to meet and discuss developments
in efforts against jai alai, whose results are used in the illegal
numbers game masiao.
Fr. Max Abalos said the protest rally's effectiveness can be
gauged by the number of people it musters.
In the next two months, preparations will be made for the
protest.
Former congressman Raul del Mar told the group he received
unconfirmed reports the Supreme Court granted the motions of
reconsideration filed by his son, Rep. Raoul "Rannie" del Mar.
The younger del Mar's first petition against jai alai was
dismissed on a technicality--a page was missing form the brief.
Cardinal Vidal hopes the raly will draw the attention of
Cebuanos and the whole nation,particularly Congress, which he said
should stop Pagcor from operating jai alai.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.(Pagcor),with President
Estrada's blessings, revived jai alai last week to help raise government
revenues.
Acting Cebu City Mayor Osmena said it's not enough to stop the
operation of jai alai only in Cebu.
Even without games in Cebu, masiao can still be operated, based
on results of the games played in Manila.(PNA) rgc /lam/EB/RE
PNA 06301707