COMPILED BY PANAY NEWS STAFF
Should government tolerate illegal gambling because, as President Duterte says, going after illegal gamblers will further drive people to traffic illegal drugs?
I strongly disagree. Tolerating one social evil (illegal gambling) does not prevent other social evils (such as illegal drug trade) from occurring.
Laws are established to keep peace and order; rather than removing them (or legalizing a social evil), our government officials should focus on eliminating three things: intent, motive, and opportunity for criminals to conduct their trade. – EMZ AUSTRIA, senior manager, Business Process Outsourcing industry
It is the worst alternative to the illegal drug problem. Some people are involved in drugs because they need money for gambling.
Gambling and the illegal drug problem are both the result of greed and the so-called kapit sa patalim situation. Why not think of a good livelihood program or pangkabuhayan? Why not make recycling facilities like in Japan and other countries and manufacture by-products made in the Philippines. This would help curb unemployment and solve our basura problem and flooding, maka-help pa sa environment.
Why not encouraged big business tycoons in this country to invest in pro-environment and pro-people businesses na profitable at the same time? Gambling is addictive, it can destroy a family. It will just make people be out of financial control.
I am against his idea because there are many options gid ya nga wala lang nasapak sang gobyerno kag mga buaya nga businessmen. – CHEEKY, 34, Iloilo City
Regulate. Whether we like it or not, since immemorial there’s gambling and sabong. It is in our culture. We should regulate it just like in Las Vegas and Macau among other places. Local version galing sa aton. – JENEDA SALCEDO-ORENDIAN, Provincial Board member, 5th District of Iloilo
That depends. Not all those involved in illegal gambling are involved in the illegal drug trade. But it may be possible if the same groups are the ones controlling both the illegal gambling and illegal drug trade in their own areas. – CARLA, 37, pharmacist, Jaro, Iloilo City
Filipino is fond of gambling – from cockfights to spider fights. What we need is strong political will to regulate and legalize games of chance. Government could earn additional income for social services, as well as strong teeth to arrest the illegal ones. This is a better approach. – IAN JOHN PAMPLONA, Jaro, Iloilo City
It is just a strategy to let illegal gambling financiers come out into the open. Just like sa Oplan Tokhang, just like sa shaming thru naming.
Others may find it an odd idea because it goes beyond morality and social norms, especially if they hate Digong. They will never appreciate the workings of Digong.
Illegal gamblers are wise and can play around with the law, thus, a more tricky means could catch them. – BERT LADERA, radio broadcaster
Mag-establish na lang kayo ng bookies para may additional income. – DOMING, retired government employee
Nope. The government should not tolerate illegal gambling activities. These could not help the people’s way of living. – HELEN GREECE SWEDEN SUBOSA, 22, Leganes, Iloilo
Basta illegal, illegal gid na. So why should the government tolerate it?
We admit that somehow gambling can help unemployed persons. However, it is illegal so we need not tolerate it. – COLEEN TORREFLORES, Iloilo City
