Isko Moreno says bingo game was 'parlor game,' asks DOJ to dismiss complaint

Re-electionist Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno on Tuesday claimed that the bingo game for which he was arrested earlier this year was merely a "parlor game" that did not involve any bet.

In a counter affidavit he submitted to the Department of Justice in Manila, Moreno (real name Francisco Domagoso) asked prosecutors to dismiss charges against him of illegal gambling, direct assault, resisting arrest, obstruction of justice and violation of Republic Act 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees lodged against him and six others.

Moreno said he and the others should not be charged with violation of Presidential Decree 1602, which prescribes stiffer penalties on illegal gambling, because under Letter of Instruction (LOI) No. 816, Series of 1979, issued by former President Ferdinand Marcos, "bingo game was excluded from the coverage of PD 1602 when being played as 'parlor game' for entertainment purposes."

He said they should not be accused of resisting arrest. "Sans violation of the law, arrest becomes unlawful," he added. Moreno said "tensions were running high and the crowd was already unruly."

Moreno stressed that the bingo game was conducted inside a "private and gated compound."

"There is no concrete proof that we violated the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards. All these trumped up charges were filed against us for the sole purpose of harassing us because we are all belonging to the opposing political party vis-a-vis the incumbent Mayor at the time when the incident happened," he said.

Moreno and five city councilors — Ernesto Isip Jr., Joel Chua, Ma. Asuncion Fugoso, Yul Servo Nieto, and former councilor Manuel Zarcal — were arrested in February for allegedly running an illegal gambling operation. They were released the next day for lack of evidence. — Mark Merueñas/BM, GMA News