ANGELES CITY — Opposition Councilor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. on May 9, 2017 appealed to his fellow elected officials “to do the right thing, protect our children and exercise moral ascendancy.”
Lazatin said this during his privilege speech in the City Council Session hall after he filed a “Resolution requesting the City Government through the Chief Executive, to temporarily stop issuing permits to establishments involved in any form of e-gambling pending the result of PAGCOR site inspection,” which he requested.
Lazatin advised his fellow elected officials to “be part, as one community, in raising well the children of Angeles City.”
Lazatin said he is saddened by the fact that the City Council approved the electronic games outlets to be established near schools while all of them are members of Committee of Education and Rights and welfare of children.
“Mapalyaring technically milusut la keng policy ning PAGCOR pero etamu dapat papaburen na dakal la reni malapit karing iskuela tamu,” Lazatin said.
Lazatin, last month, launched a crusade against electronic gaming being established near schools, houses of worships and informal settlers.
He also opposed the establishment of sports-betting in New Point Mall in Nepo center, which is near several educational and religious institutions.
“While Pagcor set certain policies, the burden of conscience is on us, as elected officials of this city,” Lazatin said.
Lazatin has also wrote a letter to schools and religious institutions to join him his crusade against the establishment of electronic gambling near schools.
“Pababayaan pa ba natin na madagdagan ang brand ng Angeles bukod sa Sin City ay maging e-games capital of the Philippines tayo,” Lazatin said.
Since 2013, records from the Angeles City Council revealed that it has approved a total of 21 new electronic gaming outlets.
Out of 21 resolutions passed by the City Council establishing e-games, 16 were sponsored by three term number 1 Councilor Jericho Genaskey Aguas.
Lazatin said that with the “mushrooming” of e-games outlets in the city, “there is a need to regulate it.”
“I am alarmed with the fact that several e-games outlets and sports-betting that were approved are near schools,” Lazatin said.