Court of Appeals shuts down jai alai operations

The Court of Appeals (CA) has completely shut the door on Meridien Vista Gaming Corp.’s operation of jai alai games in the country.

In a 34-page ruling, the appellate court granted the petition of the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) which sought to nullify the orders of two Aparri regional trial courts blocking the implementation of GAB’s March 3 cease-and-desist order against Meridien.

“This court finds that GAB had amply demonstrated that the (Aparri) RTCs gravely abused their discretion in issuing the assailed orders,” the court said in its Aug. 18 ruling.

The resolution may well be the valedictory of Presiding Justice Bienvenido Reyes, who was appointed by President Aquino as the newest associate justice of the Supreme Court on Friday.

Concurring in Reyes’ ruling were Associate Justices Estela Perlas-Bernabe and Samuel Gaerlan.

Reached for comment, Meridien spokesperson Raul Banderas said the gaming firm might appeal the court’s decision, adding that “Meridien is willing to be supervised.”

“In fact, we have stated in our letter to GAB that we’re willing to be supervised. The only question there is up to what level are they going to supervise us. That’s the bottomline,” Banderas said.

In approving the petition filed by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), the appellate court recognized GAB’s regulatory powers over the Basque pelota game.