"Ako mismo ang nagsasabi, there is no such plan. I don’t have to write a letter to anyone. If they want, they can come and see me at my office and I will tell them personally – there is no such plan of the municipal government to allow a casino in Taguig, period," Tinga said in a press statement.
Taguig-Pateros Rep. Allan Peter Cayetano recently challenged Tinga to write a letter to the Philippine Gaming and Amusement Corp. (PAGCOR) and "equivocally" state his opposition to the hotel-casino project.
Cayetano has accused the mayor and his father, former Rep. Dante Tinga, of supporting the construction of the hotel-casino on a portion of the 5.1-hectare land donated by the Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation (FBDC) to the municipality.
Religious groups have also been vocal in their opposition to the project and have staged rallies in front of the municipal hall.
The multi-sectoral group called the United Opposition of Taguig Against Casinos said that a municipal ordinance was passed in January last year providing for the creation of a "Moral Uprightness Program" that will eradicate the promotion and establishment of all forms of gambling, pornography, obscene activities, and indecent shows in the municipality.
But in October that same year, the municipal council received a draft resolution authorizing Pagcor to establish, operate, and maintain an amusement arcade on the property of Philippine Realty and Holdings Corp. in the Global City. Interestingly, the sponsors of the proposed resolution were unnamed.
In a telephone interview, Vice Mayor Loida Labao said none of the council members have admitted initiating the resolution, which is now on its first reading.
However, Labao said the resolution would not be passed now that the "people of Taguig have expressed their strong opposition against any hotel-casino project."
Earlier, Tinga said he has put a restriction in the Master Development Plan of Global City in Fort Bonifacio forbidding building and operating a casino when he was still connected with the FBDC.
In his statement, Tinga reiterated that Municipal Resolution No. 301, Series of 2001 gave former Mayor Ricardo Papa the authority to negotiate and enter into a contract for and in behalf of the municipality with any investor for the lease of the donated land, which was originally intended for a government center or a municipal hall.
Subsequently, the council approved Resolution No. 26 which authorized Papa to enter into a contract of lease with a foreign investment corporation, for the development of a hotel and tourism-oriented recreational and entertainment on the site.
For Tinga, the issue over the hotel-casino project is all rooted, once again, in politics.
"Tapos na ang eleksyon. What I want to do right now is concentrate on my job as mayor. Perhaps the good congressman would also do well to concentrate on legislation that would benefit his district instead of playing politics. He would have enough opportunity for politics in 2004," Tinga said.