THE City Government of Valenzuela has passed three local ordinances that ban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) operations and other illegal gambling in areas within its jurisdiction.
Valenzuela Mayor Wes Gatchalian said the City Council passed Ordinances 1105, or an “ordinance disallowing Pogos within the territorial jurisdiction of Valenzuela City”; 1107, or the “Online Gambling and STL Moratorium Ordinance”; and 1108, or the “2023 Anti-Illegal Gambling Ordinance.”
Violators of Ordinance 1105, which prohibits any engagement with Pogo-related activities shall face administrative fines ranging from P200,000 to P300,000 or P5,000 fine, as well as one year imprisonment.
Ordinance 1108 prohibits anyone from participating, betting, engaging, taking part, establishing, operating, managing, financing, or maintaining any illegal gambling activities such as topada, sakla, video karera, jueteng, cara y cruz, ending, masiao, last two, horse racing to include bookie operations, 7-11 or any same using dice, black jack, lucky nine, poker, monte, baccarat, tong-its, cuajao, high and low mahjong, domino, and any other games using plastic scheme tiles, slot machines, roulette, street racing, dice games, card games, games of chance, games of skill or any other kinds of illegal gambling activities.
Violators will face administrative fines ranging from P1,000 to P50,000.
It was also stated that any person proven liable in violating any part of the ordinance will be fined P5,000 or one year imprisonment, or both, subject to the discretion of court.
Ordinance 1107 implies a temporary disallowance of new or pending application, establishment, and operation of Online Games of Chance including Online Casino, E-Games, Online Sabong, E-Bingo, Online Poker or any form of Online Gambling and Small Town Lottery (STL) within the city for a period of five years.
But online gambling establishments currently operating in Valenzuela City with a valid business permit will be allowed to continue their operations.
“Our legal department just needed some time to analyze this because we do not want to go against national agencies. We all know that gambling can destroy the lives of the people. If we remember, during the pandemic, instead of buying food, the people used our financial assistance to spend on gambling. I believe it is not morally correct,” said Gatchalian.
“If we legitimize this, people will be encouraged to continue gambling. This is already a culture for us here in Valenzuela. We do not condone gambling here in the City,” he added. (SunStar Philippines)