4 firms want casinos in Cagayan de Oro

April 8, 2008

vicente emano

CASINO DE CAGAYAN. Former City Mayor now Vice-Mayor Vicente Emano is now pushing a different set of regulations that he believes will make sure that any casino outlet here in the city will not be easily accessible to the poor and underserving. (By Lizanilla J. Amarga)

There are now four local multi-billion enterprises who are asking for a special permit to operate casinos, slot machines and poker tables in the city.

This as Cagayan de Oro City Vice-Mayor Vicente Emano yesterday disclosed that he is now also helping local tycoon Albino Limketkai acquire a special permit to operate a casino in the soon to rise 21-storey building at the Limketkai Complex this city.

“Yes, they are building a building which will have 21 floors and they are asking for a permit to operate a casino,” the former city mayor now vice-mayor confirmed yesterday.

Emano is firmly convinced that the operation of a casino at Limketkai Complex should be allowed to make sure that the owners would be able to recover its huge investments aside from drawing in more investors and tourists to the city.

“The building will consist of 21 floors making it the tallest building here in Mindanao. It would be very sad if this will not push through in our city,” he said in the dialect.

Limketkai stands as the third local multi-billion enterprise owner who is now exerting pressure on Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) and Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to allow casino operations here.

The other two are the owner of Hotel Koresco at Pueblo Estates in Lumbia and WLG Philippines, Inc. who is represented by Chow Pooi Hoong which owns and operates MallBerry Suites Business Hotel at Florentino Street beside Robinsons Mall, Limketkai Business Center this city.

The earliest local applicant for a casino permit was Pryce Plaza Hotel which was made during the time of then City Mayor Pablo Magtajas. The Magtajas Administration lost the case to Pryce Plaza at the Supreme Court.

Emano recalled how he was still provincial governor of Misamis Oriental during the time when Pryce Plaza Hotel made moves to operate a casino here in the city.

He said the offer at that time was P2 million for the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental, P2 million for the City Government of Cagayan de Oro and P2 million for charitable institutions.

“The P24 million for charitable institutions alone is already a huge help for our people,” he said.

Emano explained how he understands how Arroyo is hesitant to grant these casino permits as she fears the wrath of the Roman Catholic Church which has always maintained its opposition to casinos here.

“But the reason being presented that casinos will only promote more violence and more criminalities is very lame,” he said in the dialect.

Emano cited that there are casinos that are operating in the cities of Cebu, Bacolod and even Davao among others but that there is no showing of any direct relationship between a casino operation and the rise of violence and criminalities in such areas.

He said Davao City under Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is even very peaceful.

“And besides, no one can enter the casino without a passport or paying first some amount of money,” he said. <!–[if !vml]–><!–[endif]–>

Written by admin · Filed Under Cagayan de Oro