‘Di pang COVID-19! Zarate: Lifting of ban on casinos in Boracay aimed at raising campaign funds

By Billy Begas

House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate on Tuesday said that the lifting of the casino operation ban in Boracay Island is “actually just a ploy to raise more election funds for his clique’s candidates and, strategically give the monopoly of casino operations to his allies thru the Boracay Island Development Authority (BIDA).”

Zarate said Duterte is just using the need to generate additional funds for the government’s COVID-19 response to cover-up its real intention.

He said Duterte’s announcement is “step two” in monopolizing the casinos in Boracay using the yet to be enacted BIDA, which would have the power to contract, lease, buy, sell, acquire, own, or dispose real property of whatever nature in the island.

“His ‘jetskied’ statement now is a complete turn around of his 2018 pronouncement rejecting any casino operation in the island tourists destination. The island’s residents were right all along in doubting the real purpose of the 2018 closure, now it is becoming clearer,” Zarate said.

Zarate said that the 2018 closure was “just a ruse” by Duterte, as feared by many residents, to force local businesses to fold and pave the way for big businesses and foreign investors, big casinos and corporate profiteering and control.

The proposed BIDA, Zarate said will put micro and small business owners and indigenous peoples at a grave disadvantage.

Zarate said BIDA would even trample on the rights and mandate of the local governments of Aklan province and Malay town.

The Aklan provincial board and the municipal councils of Malay and other towns in the area have opposed the proposed BIDA.

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Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)