The Parish Pastoral Council of the Diocese of Dumaguete passed a resolution recently urging the governor, all city and municipal mayors and their councils, as well as barangay captains, to end all forms of illegal gambling activities in the province.

Aside from PPC, the Diocesan Council of the Laity and Diocesan Organization Renewal Movements and Communities also called on local officials to ban these illegal gambling operations, specifically Lotto, “swertres” and Bingo Milyonaryo which are reportedly in full operation in some areas of the province.

The same resolution was passed by the three Catholic Christian organizations and denounced the PNP and other law enforcement agencies for being weak in stamping out illegal gambling.

Gambling in the province brings destruction in the lives of countless people, especially the children, the poor and elderly, the resolution states.

The Bingo Milyonaryo, a numbers game, similar to lotto, was introduced in Negros Oriental allegedly to reduce the illegal numbers game, “swertres”, in the province, making illegal legal, the resolution stated.

In a meeting with the Provincial Peace and Order Council, PNP provincial director, Sr. Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, reported that 24 operators, 51 runners or ushers, and 36 bettors were apprehended during the first semester of 2011.

The PNP has intensified its campaign against illegal gambling especially “swertres”, with 62 operations conducted provincewide.

With the PNP's unceasing campaign against illegal gambling, Lawas said, his unit, together with other enforcement agencies, were able to identify some financiers, and cases have been readied for filing in court.

Lawas pledged to double their efforts to contain the illegal numbers game by conducting sustained anti-gambling operations.*RG

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