Clash of Authority

Who has the authority to open gambling parlors?

By virtue of the super charter that created it, Pagcor’s authority  overrides those of local governments. In theory, Pagcor could open casinos and bingo outlets in any locality without going through the usual torturous process of obtaining permits that every other business must go through.

In practice, Pagcor usually asks gaming operators running Pagcor-sanctioned outlets to obtain a mayor’s permit, or at least a letter of no objection. The requirement that’s not a legal requirement is mandated, on the premise that it’s better to be in a place where the local political powers don’t object to you rather than establish in a hostile environment. Never fight city hall.

But every so often that clash of authority erupts.

In Bacolod City, Mayor Evelio Leonardia padlocked a newly opened Bingo Bonanza outlet in the SM mall last week. Now Jesus Hinlo, the lawyer of the Bingo operator, Phuture Visions Corporation, Inc., is going to be busy trying to get a court to overrule the mayor. 

It would be in the interest of Pagcor that the court issues a ruling in this fracas affirming that a mayor’s permit is indeed not needed.

Hinlo, in his letter to Reynaldo on Feb.26, said Pagcor has already approved their application without requiring a Mayor’s Certification of No Objection. He also reminded Reynaldo in his letter that it is only Pagcor and not the City of Bacolod that has regulatory control in the grant of the authority to operate bingo outlet.

“Whatever requirements that the Pagcor obliges from its applicants is solely and exclusively within the said Agency’s jurisdiction. The Pagcor’s Board Resolution conferring upon my client the authority to operate Bingo games at SM City Mall, effectively superseded the procedures and requirements,” Hinlo also stressed in his letter.