MANILA, Philippines — Isabela 1st district Representative Rodolfo Albano III has claimed that congressmen are not among the government officials barred from playing in casinos.
During the continuation Wednesday of the House inquiry into the Resorts World Manila tragedy, which left 38 people dead, including the gun-wielding former government employee — described as gambling addicted — who set off a deadly fire and eventually killed himself, Albano had asked Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation chair Andrea Domingo what she thought about his bill imposing a P3,000 entrance fee to casino-goers.
She replied that it would wipe out the whole mass market if implemented and suggested that players be allowed to use a portion of the fee to play.
Albano then explained that the entrance fee would discourage gamblers, especially those with meager salaries.
Domingo replied that under their charter, they were allowed to charge casino-goers P100, but they did not do that. Rather, they charged the casinos, instead.
“Ako, hindi pa ako nasisingil pagpasok ko sa casino (I’ve never been charged while entering a casino),” Albano told her.
To which Domingo replied that she believed government officials are not allowed to enter casinos.
Albano refuted this, saying members of Congress, as elected officials, are not among those barred from playing in casinos. Only government executives covered by the Civil Service Law are covered by the prohibition, he said.
How accurate was his statement?
In September 2016, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea issued Memorandum Circular No. 06, “enjoining all government officials and employees to strictly observe and comply with the prohibition against going to gambling casinos.”
Medialdea pointed out that Section 2 of Republic Act No. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees mandates the State to “promote a high standard of ethics in public service and that government personnel shall discharge their duties with utmost responsibility, integrity, competence, and loyalty; act with patriotism and justice; lead modest lives; and uphold public interest over personal interest.”
He added that Presidential Decree No. 1067-B (s. 1977) bars “government officials connected directly with the operation of the government or any of its agencies” from playing in casinos, along with “members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Constabulary.”
Read Presidential Decree No. 1067-B here: http://www.chanrobles.com/presidentialdecrees/presidentialdecreeno1067-B.html#.WUoenWh97IU.
This issuance granted Pagcor a “franchise to establish, operate, and maintain gambling casinos on land or water” in the Philippines.
Under Memorandum Circular No. 06, “all government officials and employees shall strictly observe and comply with all pertinent laws, issuances, and policies prohibiting government personnel to enter, stay, or play in gambling casinos.”
The issuance added, “All heads of departments, bureaus, and offices, government-owned or -controlled corporations and local governments, including those of the AFP and the Philippine National Police, shall remind and reiterate to the officials and employees under them the above-stated laws, issuances, and policies, and impose the appropriate sanctions and penalties in case of violation thereof.”
Read the Memorandum Circular No. 06 here: http://www.dbm.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/Issuances/2016/Memorandum%20Circular/MCNo6.pdf.
While the rules of the House of Representatives does not mention gambling in its Code of Conduct, it does say that “A Member shall act at all times in a manner that reflects creditably on the House.”
Nevertheless, a few government officials have also violated the Presidential Decree.
Former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada was caught on videotape playing baccarat with buddy Charlie “Atong” Ang in the VIP room of what was then the Silahis Hotel when he was still vice president in 1998, according to a Philippine Star report.
Read it here: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/507789/bentain-taped-erap-security-men-slept.
The late Land Transportation Office chief Virgina Torres was also caught on camera at a casino. She said, however, that she had just been drawn to the slot machine’s lights and did not play played.