CA stops govt crackdown on illegal jai alai betting stations

The government's campaign to dismantle illegal jai alai betting and gaming stations has been temporarily stalled by the Court of Appeals. In a resolution promulgated last July 22, the appellate Court's Special Sixth Division issued a 60-day temporary restraining order (TRO) to prevent the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) from enforcing a joint memorandum order directing law enforcement bodies to crack down on off-fronton jai alai gaming and betting stations. Off-fronton jai alai stations are those operated outside the Cagayan Freeport Zone, the only area where the game can be played. In its resolution, the CA's Special Sixth Division said the joint DOJ-DILG memo will cause imminent and irreparable injury and grave injustice to Meridien Vista Gaming Corporation, the only private entity which has the license to oeprate jai alai betting and gaming stations within the freeport zone. "This court finds it imperative to issue a TRO valid for sixty (60) days. Accordingly, respondents (DOJ Sec. Leila De Lima and DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo) and all persons acting for them and on their behalf, from or under their instructions, are hereby enjoined from executing, enforcing, implementing or otherwise giving effect to the assailed joint DOJ-DILG Memorandum Circular dated June 27, 2011," the resolution read. Associate Justice Juan Enriquez wrote the resolution, which was concurred in by Associate Justices Ramon Bato, Jr. and Jane Aurora Lantion. Can Meridien still operate? The CA's Special Sixth Division may have blocked the government's crackdown, but Meridien remains barred from operating jai alai betting and gaming stations. This is because the CA's Third Division has issued a TRO preventing Meridien from operating the game within the Cagayan Freeport Zone, where it can be played legally. Last June 23, the Third Division ruled in favor of the state-owned Games and Amusements Board (GAB) and suspended the Aparri Regional Trial Court's orders allowing Meridien to operate within the freeport zone. GAB has argued that the Aparri RTC committed grave abuse of discretion when it ruled in favor of Meridien, whose jai alai operations the state gaming agency has questioned. Finding merit in the GAB’s petition, the CA then said: “Let a temporary restraining order (TRO), effective for 60 days from service, be issued enjoining the RTC from implementing the assailed orders." Associate Justice Bienvenido Reyes wrote the resolution, which was concurred in by Associate Justices Estela Perlas Bernabe and Elihu Ybañez. — RSJ, GMA News