“I
can't speak on behalf of the show. I'm not a creator; I'm just a pawn.” Randy Harrison
By
Alex P. Vidal
THE
main reason why small town lottery (STL) was not legalized in the province of
Iloilo is because then Gov. Neil D. Tupas Sr. was against illegal gambling per
se.
Under
Tupas, STL was never a serious topic.
It's
a taboo.
Tupas
would pay attention to anyone who visited his office and even his house in
Hechanova, Jaro district, Iloilo City but would sneer at those who would
convince him to support gambling operation in the province.
Although
the provincial board had passed a resolution interposing no objection to the
operation of STL in the province, it met a major snag due to Tupas’
lackadaisical attitude.
No
one could fathom why Tupas, who reigned from 2001 until 2010, was so allergic to gambling.
On
several occasions, Tupas gave cold shoulder treatment to liaisons of gambling
operators lobbying for the STL in the province.
Reports
that Tupas “nixed a monthly payola” from illegal gambling operators were
confirmed by the most diligent factotum of Bogart, one of Iloilo’s most
powerful and most influential illegal gambling operators.
“Sakit
sa ulo na si gob (Tupas). Ka tig a gid. (It’s hard to
convince Governor Tupas. He is really hard),” the diligent factotum grumbled.
The
grapevine was so loud at that time that as long as Tupas was the governor,
there’s no way for STL or any gambling activity to prosper, much less be
legalized in the province.
LIGHT
Under
the administration of Gov. Arthur “Art” Defensor Sr., gambling or STL found
light at the end of the tunnel, finally.
In fact, Defensor is
himself pushing to allow STL in the province in order to solve the problems
brought by its clandestine operations.
The
governor’s ally in the provincial board, Manny Gallar, has started the ball
rolling.
In
the recent regular session of the provincial board, Gallar sponsored a
resolution pushing for legalization of STL.
Gallar’s
move came in the heels of former Iloilo first district congressman Oscar “Oca”
Garin’s Sr. saber-rattling that some municipal mayors and police chiefs in his
district were receiving protection racket from illegal gambling operators.
Interestingly,
Garin’s only son, Rep. Oscar “Richard” Garin Jr., acting as chair of the
committee as a whole, introduced the board resolution in 2010 when the latter
was still the vice governor.
Garin
Jr’s committee in 2010 held public consultations and concluded that “the
operation of STL in the province will not contribute in cultivating a culture
of immoral gambling among the Ilonggos; the societal value of STL as a tool to
eradicate jueteng, an illegal numbers game, may be enhanced by allowing its
operations, and from the standpoint of government as the primary agency charged
with addressing the needs of its people, it can be prudently argued that the
funds generated from STL appear to promise available resources for a more
responsive and effective delivery of basis services to its constituents.”
CHARITY
STL
charity fund sharing scheme suggested that the host city or municipality gets
the biggest slice of the STL revenue share at 10 percent.
Capitol and the PNP will
get five percent apiece.
Each
of the five districts of Iloilo will earn 2.5 percent.
With
Defensor’s imprimatur, Gallar’s resolution is expected to have a smooth
sailing.
Gambling
proponents think now is the right time to step up the campaign to legalize STL
because of the apparent harmonious relationship between Defensor and the
provincial legislature.
No
feud means no opposition.
No
check and balance?
When
he was still anchorman of Bombo Radyo Iloilo, Gallar lambasted illegal gambling
operations in the city and province in his early morning radio program.
He
was fearless and consistent in his anti-illegal gambling commentaries.
As
a provincial board member, Gallar now advocates for STL’s legalization.
A
360-degree turn for the diminutive politician from Cabatuan, Iloilo.
He
must only be a pawn in this saga.
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