PHILIPPINES -- The battle over jai alai in this Southeast Asian nation heats up as another temporary restraining order (TRO) was issued by a city trial judge to enforcement authorities to halt their operations against allegedly illegally-operating off-fronton betting stations.
Pasay City Trial Court Judge Jude Pedro Corales issued the TRO to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) directing both agencies to stop their crackdown on jai alai betting stations in Metro Manila and in the provinces. The TRO had an effectivity of 72-hours and was issued following the petition of one Ferdinand Ojerio, owner of off-fronton betting station Green Lotus Amusement Center.
However, DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima opined that the TRO issued by the Pasay City judge goes against the TRO issued by the Court of Appeals that directed Meridien Vista Gaming Corporation to cease its jai alai operations at the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA). She added that they will be questioning the new TRO.
The DOJ and DILG have been jointly conducting raids of off-fronton betting stations all over the country after the legality of the jai alai operation was questioned. Under Republic Act 954, franchises for jai alai operations in the Philippines can only be issued by Congress. With that, authorities including the DOJ, DILG, and the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) have been attempting to halt the operations of Meridien which claims a CEZA license to operate the fronton.
Source: Inquirer.net
Posted: July 12, 2011
