By NITZ ARANCON, Correspondent ROMAN Catholic priests in the city would meet in order to map out plans to oppose a move by Limketkai Sons Inc. to open and operate a casino in Lapasan. Archbishop Antonio Ledesma over the weekend said he would call meetings among priests so they could brainstorm and collectively decide on exactly what to do in view of the Limketkai firm’s application submitted to city hall. Ledesma said it would be a series of meetings. He said the local Roman Catholic archdiocese has never changed its opposition against casino operations in the city, and it’s the same position taken during the time when the city’s archbishop was Jesus Tuquib. Tuquib was in the forefront of the mass actions against the casino that briefly operated at Pryce Plaza in Carmen in the ’90s. The archdiocese was fully supported by city hall at that time under the then mayor Pablo Magtajas. He said allowing a casino to operate in the city would be at the expense of moral values. Ledesma also called on the city council to conduct public hearings and consider the position of all stakeholders before it acts on the application of the Limketkai group. “Dili lang unta ilang decision ang masunod apan ila unta nga pangotan-on ug paminawon ang katawhan pina-agi sa public hearings,” Ledesma said. Councilor Enrico Salcedo, who has expressed his strong objections to Limketkai’s plan, said he feared the crime rate in the city would shoot up if the casino is allowed to operate. Salcedo said casinos have proven time and again that they could destroy family relations. He said it would also worsen the problem of traffic congestion in the city. “Kon ila kong ma-convince nga makahatag sa maayong oportunidad sa katawhan ang casino mopabor ko, pero kon wala, supak ko,” said Salcedo. Councilor Romeo Calizo said he favors the casino operation but he wants strict regulations like Cagayanons should be barred from getting in. “Kon kinahanglan nga ang taga Cagayan de Oro dili togotan nga mosulod sa casino ato nang ibutang    diha nga usa sa mga restrictions,” Calizo said.