New Baguio officials oppose ‘bingo-teng’

BAGUIO CITY — Baguio’s new set of leaders are opposing the conduct of bingo socials, or more popularly known here as "bingo-teng," being operated by barangay leaders.

Acting Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. said he believes that the controversial "Bingo sa Barangay" is not good for the city.

He said there are other things that barangay leaders can do other than operate "bingo-teng" to generate additional revenues. He insists that the image of the city is being adversely affected by ‘bingo-teng.’

Baguio City has been declared a "City of Character" where good virtues are marked each month in the calendar.

The Bingo sa Barangay has been operated by the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) since early this year as part of its use of "fiscal autonomy" to generate funds for barangay projects.

Critics, including suspended Mayor Braulio Yaranon, however, claim that such an operation is plain and simple gambling though it takes the form of a "bingo social" type of betting.

Not all barangay leaders of the 128 barangays have approved ‘bingo-teng’, Yaranon ealier said.

The city council, which Bautista used to head had pressed to meet with law enforcement agencies like the Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Criminal Investigation and Detention Group, the Department of Interior and Local Government and others involved in running after illegal gambling operations to shed light on the alleged jueteng resurgence in Baguio City as well as ‘bingo-teng.’

"There is a need to find out from peacekeeping agencies what they are doing to stop the operation of jueteng and similar gambling activities," said Councilors Galo Weygan, Leandro Yangot Jr., Daniel Fariñas, Perlita Chan-Rondez and Rocky Thomas Balisong.

The councilors are reacting to reports that alleged gambling activities are being operated widely in the city.

Baguio City police director Senior Superintendent Isagani Nerez, however, said that the lottery game "Bingo sa Barangay" is awaiting court interpretation.

Promoters of the game had earlier asked a court here to interprete its legality amid former mayor Braulio Yaranon’s uncompromising stance against the game, which he tagged as "jueteng masquerading as bingo socials."