Bishop opposes Casino in Lipa

Casino at Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club also means

the first legalized gambling operation in the pilgrim city of

Lipa.

Lipa City – Saying that presence of gambling facilities will only lead to the growth of criminality in the province, Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles has called on Batangueños on July 25 to oppose the establishment of a casino in the Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club.      In the said homily on a July 25 mass, Arguelles said that the people should not allow the said project to push through because gambling only “destroys families.”
     “They tell us that (the casino) is only for the rich people, but even the poor are addicted to gambling. That’s why there are thieves and our streets are no longer safe. That’s why there are many hired killers. Why does a person kill? Because he needs money. Why does he need money? Because of drugs, because of gambling, because of sex,” Arguelles said in his homily.
     He said that a lot of people, even women themselves, have already committed suicide in the past after they fell in huge debt following a huge loss in gambling.

How much trouble will the casino cost to Architect Antonio

Turalba Sr.?  The people of Lipa who are opposed to the

gambling operations will let him know.

Trouble
     The bishop even compared the situation of Lipa allowing the casino to the Bible’s cities of Sodom and Gomorrah that was destroyed by God because of the people’s sins in the past.
    “My dear brothers and sisters, in the near future you will be asked (whether or not you’re in favor of putting up a casino) and you know the answer. Let us not put our province in trouble. This city is the city of God, the Marian Capital of the Philippines. Many people from other countries come here to witness God,” Arguelles said.
     This city is the home of numerous Catholic churches that have been famous for miracles and miraculous healings such as the Our Lady of Carmel church where the shower of rose petals was fully documented.

Opposition
     He added that the bishops of Southern Tagalog Region had already issued an open statement opposing all forms of gambling but the Church, particularly in Laguna and Quezon Provinces, are having a hard time fighting the said vice that’s why it is asking the help of the clergy.
     “We must not allow this province, our Archdiocese which is celebrating its 100th year as the kingdom of God to become Sodom and Gommorrah. Too many families will be broken. Too many people will commit suicide because they do not pray before God but they talk with the enemy of God,” Arguelles said, reiterating his appeal to the Batangueños in a Sunday mass.
      Aside from the casino, Arguelles had also opposed in the past the existence of illegal numbers game jueteng in Batangas province and the establishment of lodges in Lipa City.

Casino
     Earlier on July 15, Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) President and Chief Operating Officer Rafael Francisco had sent a letter asking Mayor Meynard Sabili and the Lipa City Council to issue a certification “interposing no objection and welcoming the proposed operation of a PAGCOR Club in Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa City, Batangas.”
     In an interview with Sabili, he said he will not permit any casino to operate in Lipa, because this city, he said, happens to be a pilgrim city.
     “If they insist on operating, and if they operated without a permit, I will close them down,” Sabili said.
      According to Jean Asa, Sabili’s consultant they didn’t know about the casino’s operation in Malarayat until the interview.
“We were there (at Malarayat Golf Club) last week, and we were informed that they will only be putting slot machines there, no big-time gambling will be operated there,” Asa said.
     Sabili’s executive secretary Libay Lopez told the SLI that this publication should give them evidences and documents about the casino in Malarayat for them to study.

With the casino operation, the wholesome image of the golf

club  changes too.

Casino opportunity
     Francisco said that the PAGCOR has already conducted several studies in the area and after thorough evaluation, they found out that the Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club presents “good and viable opportunities in hosting a theme called PAGCOR Club.”
     In his letter, he also said that the proposed PAGCOR Club will “further improve economic activities in the city and inevitably raise revenue for the esteemed community.”
     The said letter was referred to the city council’s committee on games and amusement chaired by Councilor King Umali in a regular session on July 26. No committee hearing has been scheduled so far on the proposed casino.

Location
     SLI found out that even the location of the casino is not suitable for the said operation.
     The Malarayat casino or PAGCOR Club is located at the 2nd floor of the Sports lounge beside the Children’s Pavilion and children’s pool.
     Targeting the Korean guests who are staying at the condominium buildings in front of the Children’s Pavilion, the casino is projected to earn a bigger income from the gambling operations.
     According to the articles of incorporation that Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club, Inc. filed at the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 1995, the primary purpose of the company was to “promote social, recreational and athletic activities on a non-profit basis among its stockholders, the core of which will be the acquisition and maintenance of a golf field course and other similar facilities.”
     There was no mention of gambling in the company’s primary purposes.
      As of July 6, or a week before it reportedly opened on July 15, the casino has no operating permit. According to Jeffrey Olan from the Lipa City Permits and Licenses Office, the company hasn’t applied yet for any permit.
     The company has already decided the casino operation as early as May 8, 2010 during the meeting of the Board of Directors who unanimously approved the gambling operation.
     A male political analyst in Lipa told the SLI that the management could have taken advantage of the political lull and uncertainty in the new administration after the recent automated election when it decided to open the casino.

Family matters
     While Archbishop Arguelles was keen on his opposition on the casino, he also sent a letter on July 25 to Arch. Antonio Turralba, Sr. president of the Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club, restating his stand against the establishment of casino in the said exclusive resort.
     In the said letter, the bishop also thanked Turralba for the support given by the club president to the projects of the Archdiocese of Lipa, including the realization of the St. Therese Church and Parish in Dagatan Village, Lipa.
     He also thanked the architect for the assistance he gave to the January 17 wedding of Arguelles’ nephew who married Turralba’s daughter Antonella.
     Antonella is listed in the company’s SEC registration as one of its incorporators and sits in the board of directors.
    Arguelles however said that he “cannot and should not water down the opposition especially of the church in the archdiocese to all kinds of vices.”

     “Following the line of my predecessor, may I express my personal and official plea that no gambling facilities be established in Malarayat as well as anywhere in our province, the Archdiocese of Lipa,” Arguelles said.

     The SLI called Turralba in his office but he wasn’t there. Turralba also didn’t answer the questions SLI sent to him through his email. (Marlon Alexander Luistro and Mei Magsino)

The map of Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club shows how close the casino is from the children's pavillion