Lawmakers take Lenten break in Singapore to study casino trends

Barely a day after Congress shut down for the customary Lenten break, about a dozen members of the House of Representatives hurriedly packed their bags and rushed to Singapore for the weekend, ostensibly to attend a casino briefing and a meeting of regional parliamentarians.

Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing confirmed via text message on Friday that he and four other lawmakers were in Singapore to attend a briefing to be conducted by UBS Bank and the Resorts World Sentosa Group on gaming and tourism trends and business opportunities in the region.

Resorts World Sentosa is an integrated resort on the island of Sentosa, off the southern coast of Singapore, that operates Singapore’s two casinos, a Universal Studios theme park and Marine Life Park, which includes the world’s largest oceanarium. It is a sister resort to Resorts World Manila, a casino franchise operator.

“By the way, we paid for our own tickets and hotel [accommodations],” said Bagatsing.

The trip of the Bagatsing group came less than two weeks after the House approved on third and final reading a bill that would terminate Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.’s (Pagcor) authority to grant gaming franchises, giving this power back to Congress.

A source had claimed that a large group of lawmakers had gone on a junket to the island nation right at the start of the congressional Lenten break from March 21 to May 7. The source claimed that the trip had been bankrolled by Resorts World Manila.

But Kingson Sian, president of Travellers International Hotel Group, which runs RW Manila, denied extending any favors or perks to the lawmakers.

Bagatsing, the chair of the House committee on games and amusements, stressed that RW Manila merely assisted the lawmakers for the Singapore briefing.

“We are currently reviewing laws on gaming and also the contribution of integrated resorts to tourism,” he explained.

The congressman said his party included Tarlac Rep. Jeci Lapus and Negros Oriental Rep. George Arnaiz, who are both members of the committee on legislative franchises; San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor Ejercito, a member of the committee on games and amusements, and Cebu City Rep. Rachel del Mar, a member of the two committees mentioned.

Bagatsing did not say how long the group would be staying in Singapore.

House Secretary General Marilyn Yap also confirmed that Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and an unspecified number of members from the House majority bloc had flown to Singapore to attend a meeting of the Asean Interparliamentary Assembly (Aipa), an organization composed of the parliaments of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

“The Speaker has confirmed his attendance as of Wednesday but he sometimes changes his mind when important matters arise,” said Yap in a text message.