Cebu City, Jan. 19, 1998 - Local officials and civic-religious groups vow to fight jai-alai and will hold protest rallies to express their opposition to the approval by Congress of a bill granting a new jai-alai franchise.
Father Max Abalos, spokesman of the Sugbuanong Nagpakabana (Supak), a coalition of 50 multi- sectoral organizations, said the mass actions will go all the way to the Senate, to stop the Upper House from approving the 25-year franchise to Metropolitan Leisure and Tourism Co. owned by Belle Resources Corporation. The franchise allows the outfit to put up and operate frontons and betting stations anywhere in the country.
What Cebuanos fear, Abalos said, is the proliferation of "masiao" which is an illegal numbers game based on the results of the jai-alai games.
Cebu City Mayor Alvin Garcia also vowed to take legal action against the entry of jai-alai in his city.
"Small businesses are what make Cebu tick. If the consumers cut down on consumption to use their money on gambling, these businesses will be affected," the mayor said.
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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