JV bows to Church pressure, shuts down poker club

The pressure exerted by local church officials has prompted San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito and the city council to revoke a permit he earlier issued for a poker club to operate at the Greenhills shopping center.

“We have to withdraw the resolution issued earlier because of the controversial issues concerning the Catholic Church,” said Councilor Domingo Sese, who sponsored the resolution allowing the poker club to operate.

The Vicariate of St. John the Baptist in San Juan voiced its disapproval of the operation of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor)-sponsored games such as on-line bingo and poker, and called for a total ban of all forms of gambling in the city.

Sese said the poker club would provide additional revenues and job opportunities for constituents and would support special projects to benefit the youth and senior citizens.

He said Ejercito and the city council are sensitive to the voice of the people and to the clamor of the Catholic Church, prompting them to shut down the poker club. – Non Alquitran