Councilor to probe billiard betting incident

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

A city councilor said he would look into the alleged billiard tournament involving betting at Brgy. Bolilao in the Mandurriao district on July 20.

Councilor Rommel Duron, chairperson of the Committee on Games, Amusement, and Professional Sports, stated that he had received reports of several individuals betting money during a billiard tournament held over the weekend, noting that an investigation into the incident is necessary.

“We will have an ocular inspection of where this happened. We will have the police report. This will be the basis of our investigation in aid of legislation. We will call for a committee hearing regarding that matter,” he said in an interview on Wednesday, July 24.

Duron emphasized that if money is involved in the billiard event, a license from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is required, and the lack thereof is already illegal.

PAGCOR, the country’s gaming regulator, operates the Casino Filipino chain of casinos, oversees the market, and is responsible for issuing sanctions over unlicensed and illegal activities.

Duron further clarified that the city government only has the authority to license and regulate regular cockfighting, pursuant to the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission and subject to its review and supervision.

The councilor noted that in the committee hearing, the chief of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) Station 10 in Mandurriao, the Task Force on Morals and Values Formation, and the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) will be invited.

Captain Nonito Venteroso Jr. of the ICPO Station 10 was removed from his post as officer-in-charge on July 22. The reason for his relief was not specified by the ICPO.

Meanwhile, the Task Force on Morals and Values Formation issued a closure order to the establishment that hosted the billiard tournament on July 25.

Nestor Canong, head of the task force, stated that the establishment lacked a business permit from the BPLO and only had an application with the Securities and Exchange Commission.