By CYRUS M. GARDE
BACOLOD City — The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) does not condone illegal gambling, its undersecretary has said.
It does not tolerate the operation of any business, including gambling outfits, without the necessary license from a concerned government agency or permit from pertinent local government units, Peter Irving C. Corvera said.
Corvera issued the statement in response to Councilor Carlos Jose Lopez’s query on the agency’s position regarding Bingo Milyonaryo operations here.
DILG will act accordingly against any violation, he said.
Mayor Monico Puentevella has challenged the police here to step up its campaign against illegal gambling, specifically Bingo Milyonaryo.
Puentevella insisted that the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO)-sanctioned numbers game is illegal in this city.
He said DILG secretary Mar Roxas told him to rid the city of the numbers game because the department never endorsed or authorized it.
Bingo Milyonaryo operators here claimed that PCSO has authorized their operation, but Puentevella said he will follow orders from DILG, not from PCSO.
Chief Supt. Josephus Angan, regional police director, has also directed the city police chief, Senior Supt. Pedrito Escarilla, to intensify their anti-illegal gambling drive./PN
