Archbishop scolds CDO over move to replace jueteng with STL

MANILA, Philippines — City officials in Cagayan de Oro received a harsh scolding from their archbishop Friday over a bid to replace jueteng with small-town lottery. Archbishop Antonio Ledesma twitted the decision of majority of the city councilors who are to vote for the resolution of legalizing small town lottery (STL) in the city. “Systematic, widespread and big-time gambling by whatever name or adjective, is still gambling. Whether gambling is legal or illegal, whether it is operated by an individual or by the government, it is still ‘the same dog with a different collar,’" Ledesma said in an interview posted on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines website (www.cbcpnews.com). Earlier, Ledesma commended the local government’s massive anti-gambling drive following the shooting of a broadcaster who accused some police officers of protecting gambling in the city. But now, he questioned the city councilors’ decision to legalize STL, supposedly so it will provide additional income for the city coffers. The councilors also claim that STL has been declared legal by the Supreme Court, so they have no power to stop it. “We are deeply saddened by the news that majority of our city councilors —apparently with tblessings from their superiors — are going to vote affirmatively for the resolution allowing the introduction of another gambling game: the small town lottery," said Ledesma. “STL will even be worse than the illegal games now because it will effectively and openly encourage even the poor wage earners to gamble and gamble to their own disadvantage — just look at who mainly form the lines of the Lotto now," he added. Ledesma pointed out that gambling can be addictive and threatens family stability. “Addictive gambling shakes the stability of the family! And worse still, STL will effectively make addicts not only of our poor but also out of our children," he said. Ledesma took a dig on the alleged “financiers" of gambling, saying that legalizing the game would present a strong temptation for government and police officials to fall deeply into corrupt practices. STL will just put a legal mask to the present “financiers" and even corrupt more our city officials and PNP officers, he said. He questioned the claim of city officials that money generated from gambling will fund social services. Ledesma also expressed fear that the money will only go into the pockets of powerful government officials to fund their favored candidates in 2010 elections. On the other hand, he said gambling is taboo among the Muslims. Legalizing it in the city, where a big percentage of population is Muslim, will be a slap to their belief, said the prelate. Appealing to their moral sense, Ledesma urged the City and Provincial councils not to allow the culture of gambling to permeate the local society. “This statement is also our way of reiterating our consistent objection to the putting up of a casino anywhere in the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro (Misamis Oriental and Camiguin), and to the putting up of ‘slot machines’ in any of our hotels and establishments," Ledesma said. - GMANews.TV