Estrada nixes cockpit arena in Sta. Ana

I’ll will never tolerate gambling. No way.”

In a press briefing Wednesday, Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada said that there was no truth to reports that a cockpit arena was being built within a heritage zone in Sta. Ana.

“As mayor, I will approve [of a project] only if everything is in order and within the law,” Estrada told reporters, adding that their initial investigation showed that the lot owner was just building a fence around the area to protect it from robbers.

“I’ll will not allow gambling there. I heard they will construct a gym. We will not give [a] permit if it’s [to be used for] gambling. If it’s within the heritage zone, all the more I will not approve of it,” he said, hinting that the rumors were being fueled by other politicians.

At the same time, Estrada said he did not know who owned the lot. There have been reports that the property owner is Charlie “Atong” Ang, a Chinese-Filipino businessman who also served as a state gaming “consultant” when Estrada was still President. In 2007, he was found guilty of bribing an official in Estrada’s plunder trial and as part of his plea bargain, Ang agreed to return his P25-million take from tobacco excise taxes. He was also prohibited by the Sandiganbayan to engage in any form of gambling.

On Tuesday, around 200 church and local leaders, teachers, doctors, students and parents gathered in front of the Sta. Ana Church to protest the alleged construction of the cockpit arena on a 3000-sq-m lot on New Panaderos St. in Sta Ana, Manila.

The property is within the 200-km heritage zone in Sta. Ana. It is just meters away from the church, two hospitals and a school.

Led by Rev. Father Willy Benito, the parish priest, and Rep. Sandy Ocampo of the city’s sixth district, the protesters lighted candles and marched toward the contested site.

A tarpaulin bearing the messages “No to gambling,” and “No to cockpit arena in Sta. Ana” was posted in front of the church to show the communityís stand against gambling.

According to Benito, they have been making their opposition known since Saturday after they received reports that a basketball court which could be converted into a cockpit arena will be built in the residential.

The developer, Benito said, has applied only for a permit to demolish the old building, not a building permit from city hall and the National Historical Institute.

He added that the lot owner was Ang as confirmed by the latter’s female relative.

Benito said that the area was being leased and developed by Erlinda Lim Tin Hay. Three architects from the developer, HomeCourt Enterprises, also visited him to explain their plans for the area while Lim Tin Hay, in a letter, assured him that a sports stadium and recreation center would be built on the lot, not a cockpit arena.