Mayor Evelio Leonardia said yesterday he believes it is premature to come up with an official statement on Small Time Lottery, but Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella reiterated he will do everything to prevent the operations of the STL in the city.

The matter is still pending with the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod, Leonardia said.

The solon, however, stressed: "I will not allow it. They will have to wait until I'm no longer congressman."

For his part, Leonardia said although he has his own personal views, he does not want to pre-empt SP since they are in the process of conducting public hearings on the matter. He said he will wait for their official stand and then come up with his own. Asked if he believes it will be beneficial to the city, Leonardia said he is open. For one we have to consider that it is legal among others, he said, and that public hearings are being held to enlighten everybody on its effect on Bacolod.

"We are talking about STL as an issue because it is gambling according to the oppositors and we have to consider that we have PAGCOR, sweepstakes and Lotto that are also forms of gambling," he said.

Leonardia said he wants to listen to the merits of STL so that they can come up with an official stand on it as soon as things are clear and things are laid down on the table.

Puentevella said his stand is not only based on financial considerations, but also on moral grounds. He believes that with STL around, even young children will be drawn to gambling.

He added that he is also thankful to Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra and the clergy for airing their opposition to the STL.

Moreover, Puentevella he wants to know from the SP who is asking for the approval of the STL franchise in Bacolod.

"I want to know who is it"? he asked, adding that he has been hearing people drop the names of the Arroyos (referring to the first family) in their bid to bring STL to Bacolod.

He said that when Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo comes to Bacolod on October 19 for the city's 69th Charter Day celebration, the presidential son will deny that their family is endorsing an STL franchise for Bacolod.

The SP has named Super Lucky Beagler Inc. as the entity which has requested for their endorsement to the PCSO to operate STL in Bacolod.

The joint SP committees, after conducting a public hearing, said the proposed operation of STL in Bacolod City will be beneficial to the city government in eliminating illegal gambling. They added that the additional financial resources will help improve the delivery of basic services.

But it also recommended that the Bacolod City government, through the SP, invoke its rights as local government to completely regulate the conduct of STL through the passage of an ordinance that will provide for its regulation.*NLG/CGS

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