Gaming corporation says its operations legal

Manila, Philippines - Meridien Vista Gaming Corp. yesterday expressed concern over the harassment of its employees because of a raid conducted on their office in Rodriguez, Rizal by elements of the Department of Interior and Local Government last Sunday.

The gaming firm, however, said it trusts DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo who said that the raid was not aimed at stopping its operations but merely to check on illegal gambling operators allegedly using Meridien as a legal front.

Meridien spokesman Raul Banderas said their lawyers are studying what legal action to take against the raid.

In a statement, Meridien said it owns a franchise to operate jai-alai and collect bets for the game that is being played at the Cagayan Export Processing Zone. The firm said that the Court of Appeals has affirmed the franchise and it’s authority to operate.

“Our operations are legal. It’s the illegal operators of gambling who are after us,” Banderas said, adding that the DILG should instead run after operators of jueteng and other forms of illegal gambling because Meridien is not an underground company.

Six persons allegedly involved on anti-jueteng operations were arrested in the raid.

But they claimed to be operating legally for the firm reportedly owned by Charlie “Atong” Ang.