Bishop slams casinos, says gambling a ‘vice,’ not gaming

Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz on Tuesday criticized casinos and gambling houses in the Philippines, in light of the deadly attack on Resorts World Manila by a former government employee hooked on gambling.

In an Unang Balita report, Cruz was quoted as saying gambling should not fall under the category of "gaming," since it is considered a "bisyo" or "vice."

Cruz said only casinos, gambling establishments, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) earn and benefit from gambling.

Pagcor is a government-owned and controlled corporation that oversees and regulates privately-owned casinos, apart from operating its own casinos and slot clubs across the country. Next to the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Pagcor is the government's largest revenue contributor.

The archbishop emeritus said the government might as well legalize the use of unlawful drug substance and narcotics, like it did with gambling, if it really wanted to generate revenue.

Jessie Carlos stormed in the casino of Resorts World Manila in the early hours of Friday, June 2. He shot at the hotel's facilities, and started a fire in some locations, causing the suffocation of 37 people. He tried but failed to steal high-value chips from the casino, and later took his own life.

He was a former tax specialist for the Department of Finance.

Carlos was dismissed from his post over misdeclaration in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) and "unexplained wealth."

Carlos reportedly got hooked on casino gambling and was "heavily indebted," with his bank account having an outstanding debt of P4 million and "several other non bank related debts." — MDM, GMA News