FOR being listed as the most numbers of illegal gambling operations in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), House Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo has asked Congress to invite Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez and Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas to shed light on the gambling operations in their area of jurisdiction.
“I would like to file a motion to invite the governor of Laguna here and probably the governor of Batangas, yung mga gobernador po ng Region 4, kung bakit hindi po masawata ang pasugalan kasi yung kanilang pong salita ay batas,” Tulfo manifested during the resumption of hearing on the proliferation of illegal gambling in Calabarzon.
“Pag sinabi ni governor, gusto ko tumigil ang sugalan sa teritoryo ko, titigil po yan,” the lawmaker added. “Maniwala po kayo sa akin. Titigil po yan pag gusto ni governor o ginusto ni mayor.” Tulfo, of ACT-CIS partylist, made the manifestation after the PNP regional director of Region 4A (Calabarzon) BGen. Paul Kennet Lucas admitted during Tulfo’s interpellation that political will is the main factor in solving the problem in illegal gambling.
“Pag ginusto po ng governor na wala pong sugal sa kanyang probinsya, pwede po, di ba? O ng mayor, pag sinabi niyang, Colonel, ayoko ng sugal dito. Or chief of police, captain. Ayoko ng sugal dito sa teritoryo ko. Nangyayari naman po, based on your experience, you’ve been a general now. Tama po ba?” Tulfo asked.
“Definitely, your honor,” Lucas replied. The police general also admitted that if the governor and mayor will order them to stop the illegal gambling operations in their area, they will follow it. Other lawmakers agreed to Tulfo’s move to invite Govs. Hernandez and Mandanas as the House Committee on Public Order and Safety Chair Sta. Rosa, Laguna Rep. Daniel Fernandez approved the motion and ordered the secretariat to issue an invitation to the said local officials.
“Ang dapat natin kausapin, si Governor, si Mayor. Unahin na po natin yung governor sa Laguna. Gusto ko pong makausap sa susunod na hearing. Bakit hindi niya napapatigil ang sugalan sa kanyang lugar?” Tulfo averred. Meanwhile, Abang Lingkod partylist Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano also manifested that a subpoena be issued to Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Mel Robles and PCSO Board of Director Jennifer Guevara for their continued absence in the committee hearing without valid reason.
