Batangas, Laguna govs asked to attend House hearing on illegal gambling

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker has asked the governors of Batangas and Laguna to attend the lower chamber’s probe on the alleged proliferation of illegal gambling in Calabarzon, particularly in their respective provinces.

During Thursday’s public order and safety committee hearing, Deputy Majority Leader for Communications and ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo asked Congress to invite Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez and Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas.

“I would like to file a motion to invite the governor of Laguna here and probably the governor of Batangas, the governors of Region 4-A, why the illegal gambling cannot be stopped under their watch,” Tulfo said.

“If the governor wants the illegal gambling to stop, then it will be prevented. Believe me, it will stop when the governor says so,” he added.

READ: 1,162 nabbed in anti-illegal gambling crackdown in Calabarzon

Based on data presented by the Police Regional Office – Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) head Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth Lucas, the region is one of areas in the country with most illegal gambling cases recorded from 2023 to this year.

Although he did not specify the number of cases within the region, Lucas said the majority of the illegal gambling incidents were found in Laguna, followed by Batangas, Cavite, Quezon, and Rizal.

Tulfo made the suggestion of inviting the governors after Lucas admitted that “political will is the main factor” in solving the issue.

Lucas added that the PNP is also willing to help them and follow the governors’ orders if they ever receive instructions to address the problem of illegal gambling operations within their respective areas.

Following this confirmation, other lawmakers agreed with Tulfo’s move, prompting them to invite the two governors.

Earlier during the hearing, Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano moved to issue a subpoena against Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Mel Robles and PCSO Board of Director Jennifer Guevara “for their continued absence in the committee hearing without a valid reason.”