Church leaders, civic groups unify to stop illegal gambling
by Jina Shirley G. Dacmay
LAGAWE, Ifugao (20 October) -- Church leaders and civic organizations have come together to find ways to stop the operation of illegal gambling in their bid to clean this capital town of vices.
This initiative of the catholic church leaders of St. Mary Magdalene parish led by Fr. Valentin Dimoc and Fr Marion Buyagawan, is supported by civic organizations as well as by other denominations as demonstrated by their presence during a forum in finding ways to eradicate gambling.
Some of the games considered illegal which are present in the community today include "jueteng", "mahjong", and "bingo".
While some members of the Senior Citizens group and the government sector do not deny playing some of the illegal games, they are willing to start the "clean up" in their organizations in support to this action.
Mike Dimalnat, Municipal Peace and Order Council Member and Representative of the Private Sector admitted that while gambling has been a way of life of the Ifugao people as a game in the olden days, it should not be tolerated anymore as it has come a certain point that it is being syndicated and financed by moneyed and powerful people.
A previous visit to all the gambling venues by representatives of the different sectors is a warning that we do not tolerate the presence of these illegal acts in our community to inculcate in the minds of our youth that gambling is not good, Dimalnat added.
With the belief that a single step will put and end to gambling, sectoral representatives are now staging a signature campaign solicited from private individuals and from all other church denominations. (PIA Ifugao) [top]
