By NITZ ARANCON, Correspondent ONE of those who led the opposition to the casino at the now closed Pryce Plaza in the ’90s yesterday advised local officials to be careful in handling the proposed casino at Limketkai center, saying this could spark mass actions similar to what happened in the city over two decades ago. Former vice mayor Antonio Soriano also cited a legal issue about Limketkai and Sons Inc.’s planned casino: the proposed site is near a stateun university and a Roman Catholic church. Soriano urged Mayor Oscar Moreno and the city council to be very careful when they decide whether or not to endorse the application for a casino at Limketkai center, and seriously consider the public pulse. He also called on the local officials to carefully look into laws on casino operations, including the city’s codified ordinance. Soriano cited an ordinance, passed during the Canoy administration, that bars casinos near churches and schools. He said the ordinance prohibits casinos within 200 meters from any church and/or school. Based on that rule, Soriano said, a casino cannot be operated at Limketkai center because of its proximity to the stateun University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines and the Sto. Niño church in Barangay 35. “Kon pananglitan ilang ibutang sa Indahag ang ilang casino, mahimo kana pero kinahanglan layo usab sa simbahan ug eskuwelahan sa mao nga barangay,” Soriano said. Mayor Moreno, for his part, assured that city hall would decide based on the law and on “social acceptability.” But he said it has been decided by the Supreme Court in the case of Magtajas vs. Pryce Plaza that local ordinances cannot go against national laws. Moreno said, “Ang approval sa application sa casino sa local level, nagkinahanglan pa gihapon sa ‘social acceptance.’ Mao na nga dunay participation ang city government kay the city  government is the duly elected government of the people. Pero we should also be aware that although we are the government of the people of Cagayan de Oro, we should also listen to the sentiments of the people kay sila pa gihapon, at the end of the day, ang atong mga agalon.” Moreno said this position is based on  RA 9487 or the charter of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. He said Section 10 of RA 9487 clearly states: “That the corporation (Pagcor) shall obtain the consent of the local government unit that has territorial jurisdiction over the area chosen as the site for any of its operations. “The operation of slot machines and other gambling paraphernalia and equipment shall not be allowed in establishments open or accessible to the general public unless the site of these operations are three-star hotels and resorts accredited by the Department of Tourism authorized by the corporation and by the local government unit concerned.”