LAS Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos has issued a resounding rejection of the proposed $1-billion twin integrated casino resorts in the city, a project reportedly spearheaded by the Villar family’s business empire.
Santos warned that opening a casino in Las Piñas would unleash long-term social and economic damage that would dwarf any short-term promises of revenue or job creation.
“Las Piñas is a peaceful, family-oriented city—not a gambling hotspot,” Santos declared. “A casino here will expose our residents, especially the youth, to addiction, crushing debt, and criminal activity. No amount of profit can justify that risk.”
In July 2024, billionaire Manny Villar announced that the first of two planned casinos would rise on the redeveloped 18,000-square-meter Vista Mall Global South along the controversial C5 Extension.
The project is led by Vertex Entertainment and Resorts Corp., a subsidiary of Villar Group’s Prime Asset Ventures, Inc. (PAVI), with an initial phase centered on a casino and hotel targeted for completion by July 2025.
Villar committed to investing $1 billion, including the value of the land, under a PAGCOR gaming license secured prior to the Duterte-era moratorium on new casino applications in 2018.
Santos, dubbed by colleagues as “The Giant Killer” for defeating former senator Cynthia Villar in the 2025 elections, stressed that local development should focus on sustainable, inclusive, and morally responsible investments.
“Economic growth should uplift—not exploit—our people. We can create jobs and attract investors without turning our city into a gambling hub,” he said.
The lawmaker underscored that Las Piñas residents already live within minutes of four major integrated casino resorts in nearby Parañaque’s PAGCOR Entertainment City—Enrique Razon’s Solaire, Belle Corp.’s City of Dreams Manila, Okada Manila, and Andrew Tan’s Westside City.
“These world-class casinos are a 5- to 10-minute drive from Las Piñas. Why duplicate them here (Las Piñas)? This is corporate greed, not community development,” Santos said.
He pointed to studies linking casino operations to increase gambling addiction, family breakdowns, and higher crime rates, warning that the explosion of online gambling has only made matters worse.
“Online gambling is already a public health and security crisis—accessible 24/7 through smartphones, tablets, and even TVs. It’s harder to regulate, more addictive, and far-reaching. Adding a land-based casino will only pour gasoline on the fire,” he cautioned.
Santos vowed to use every legal and legislative tool available to stop the project, working alongside community leaders, church groups, and civic organizations to block casino-related permits and approvals.
“The hidden cost of gambling is paid by families—not casino owners. We must protect our city, not auction off its values to the highest bidder,” Santos said. “This fight is for our families, our children, and the future of Las Piñas. I will not back down.”
