City Hall destroys gambling machines, lewd materials

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government yesterday held a symbolic activity to show the public that illegal activities do not have a place in the city.

The symbolic activity includes the destruction of illegal gambling machines and pornographic materials.

“As part of this process on destroying (these units and materials) in public, this will serve as a deterrent (on people who operate this kind of business) that crime does not pay,” said acting Mayor Edgardo Labella.

The illegal gambling machines, pornographic materials, and sex accessories were confiscated through the collaborative efforts of the members of Police Coordinating and Advisory Council and the Cebu City Anti-Indecency Board.

Labella, former PCAC head, wanted to emphasize that violation of law will not be tolerated since governing bodies need to “adhere and operate under the principle of the rule of law” safeguarding the welfare of the youth.

“Ato gyud bantayan ug proteksyonan ang moralidad sa atong mga kabatan-onan,” he said.

Labella recognized the efforts of the PCAC in conducting massive confiscation of illegal gambling units locally known as video karera and moli-moli. There were nearly 1,000 machines that were destroyed said PCAC chairman Eugene Elizalde.

 Elizalde said they consulted environmental advocates from Movement for a Livable Cebu before holding the activity since improper disposal of these units may pose hazard to the environment.

The PCAC head also thought of detaching the television sets to reuse them or for possible donation.

“We’ll never end on confiscating video kareras and moli-moli machines since this is the root of the evil and this will erode the moral values of our children since they may be the ones playing these… I hope the police will really be serious on our anti-gambling and anti-drugs campaign,” said Elizalde.

Acting CCPO Director Marciano Batiancela said some machines will remain untouched since these will be kept as evidence in court.

He likewise identified the barangays where most of these machines were confiscated: Ermita, Pasil, Calamba, Tejero, Duljo Fatima, and Mambaling.

“Atong ipakita nga ang kapulisan naa gyud tay gihimo nga aksyon kabahin niining illegal machines ug dili lang ni karon nato buhaton kon dili continuous ni siya atong opersyon. Dili ta mohunong hangtod naa pay nag-operate niining illegal machines,” said Batiancela.

Aside from PCAC, Labella also acknowledged CCAIB for its “no-nonsense approach” in confiscating sexually explicit videos and magazines, which he tagged as “Satanic materials,” upholding good morals in the society.

CCAIB chairperson Dr. Lucelle Mercado felt disheartened since these materials were displayed publicly particularly on the sidewalks along downtown area and some were even sold near the churches.

To prevent the rampant trade of these materials, she said they will continue random inspection and regular monitoring.

“We hope that this will give them second thoughts and discourage those nga naghunahuna nga ipadayon ang kaning klaseha sa pagpanginabuhi nga pagpamaligya anang mga ginadili nga mga produkto ba,” she said. (FREEMAN)