CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews / 2 Feb) – Protestant and evangelical churches in Cagayan de Oro and neighboring areas have joined in the fight against the newly opened gambling casino in a neighboring town in Misamis Oriental from resuming operations once the government downgrades the COVID-19 pandemic alert level in the province.
Their leaders – along with leaders of the Roman Catholic church and the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) – signed a position paper in time for the celebration of the World Interfaith Harmony Week, which started on Tuesday.
The Roman Catholic church and the IFI earlier issued separate statements condemning the opening of the Grand Imperial Casino in Barangay Taboc, Opol town before Christmas.
The position paper dated Feb. 1 called on the members of the religious groups to work together in stopping the operation of the casino opened by the Gokongwei-owned Universal Hotel and Resort (UHRI) and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
At least eight influential religious leaders in Cagayan de Oro signed the Ecumenical and Interfaith Statement of Concern: Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Emeritus Antonio Ledesma; Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Jose Cabantan; Iglesia Filipina Independiente Bishop Felixberto Calang of Cagayan de Oro; IFI Bishop Redeemer Yanez of the Diocese of Libertad, Misamis Oriental; Bishop Genesis Udang of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches-Peace and Reconciliation Council; Bishop Ligaya Flores San Francisco of the UCCP Northwest Mindanao Jurisdiction; UCCP District Conference of Northern Mindanao Minister Mario Ebora; and Dr. Nasalli Silava, president of the Cagayan de Oro Evangelical Ministers Association.
The casino had its soft opening in late December 2021 and was supposed to have its grand opening last month, but a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro forced the government to place these areas under the more restrictive Alert Level 3.
Under the Alert Level 3 category, casinos, bars and other similar establishments are not allowed to operate, forcing the Grand Imperial Casino to temporarily shut down.
The national COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force has extended the Alert Level 3 until February 15.
In their joint statement, the religious leaders noted that the casino was opened without public consultation and was operated near churches.
“We call on the LGU of Opol municipality to resolve this issue by taking comprehensive action that would benefit the people in the community,” read the statement, adding that the government should “address the issue of socio-economic crisis that motivates people to gamble their small money in exchange of a fake promise of fortune.”
Misamis Oriental Provincial Board Member Gerardo Sabal said the province’s legislative council would convene as a committee of the whole and pass a resolution, stating its position on the casino next week.
Last January 11, the provincial board chaired by Vice Governor Jeremy Jonahmar Pelaez found that the casino was allowed to operate even without a business permit, safety inspection certificates and other requirements. (Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews)