By LITO RULONA,
Correspondent
City Councilor Romeo Calizo, chairman of the Committee on Police, Fire and Public Safety who regularly campaign against proliferation of illegal gambling activities in the city has admitted to playing card games near City Hall and Saint Augustine Cathedral in several instances.
Calizo made this admission after residents and some players of a tennis club located in between City Hall and Saint Augustine Cathedral raised their observation to a local radio station that they see local officials playing card games with some local police in the city.
Over Magnum Radio, Calizo admitted that he played Mahjong and even Tong-its (a card game) inside a local tennis court near Carmen bridge along with key officials and tennis players while they wait for their turn to use the court.
“Human migawas akong ngalan sa radio, akong gihangyo ang court manager nga undangan ang maong dula sa Mahjong and Tong-its which is reportedly unlicensed,” he said.
He said tennis players could not immediately play at the court because only eight players can play at any given time.
“Wala na dayun kami og lingaw karon. Walay management ang siyudad diha mao nga naningkamot ang club nga makadula kami. Kung naa kami’y ma produce diha ginagmay lamang kini,” he said.
Calizo said he did not bother asking the court management if they had a business permit to operate the Mahjong and card games.
“Wala nako nangutana kung naa ba sila’y business permit when they schedule for a games. My assumption is that they comply with the provisions of the law. Dili nako mangutana,” he said.
He said in every gambling operation made by the tennis players inside the tennis court, they had assumption that a share would be given to the club in every games played inside.
He said the tennis court is considered a public place but it has not received funds for its upkeep and maintenance.
He said he is willing to step down as city councilor if the complainants continued criticizing what they do to while away their before they could play tennis.
“I can get out anytime because politics is not my bread and butter,” Calizo said.
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