Butuan gov’t warns officials, employees on illegal gambling

BUTUAN CITY – The city government here has issued a stern warning to all city officials and employees not to engage in any form of illegal gambling.

Mayor Ronnie Vicente C. Lagnada has issued Executive Order No. 016 to prohibit all forms of illegal gambling activities for all officials and employees of the city government.

“No one will be spared,” stressed the city chief executive.

Lagnada underscored that his administration condemns illegal gambling, such as the illegal numbers games as this has become “an influential factor in an individual’s disregard for the value of dignified work, perseverance and thrift since instant monetary gains from it are being equated to success, thereby becoming a widespread social menace and a source of corruption.”

He also noted in the EO that “engaging in illegal gambling activities, card and number games and other similar activities, electronic or otherwise, has proven to be detrimental to productivity, moral and ethical conduct and hampers the delivery of public services.”

Any official or employee found guilty of violating the executive order shall face disciplinary action in any of the following circumstances: a) for permanent officials and employees covered by Civil Service law rules shall be punished by a reprimand in the first offense, suspension of up to 30 days in the second offense and dismissal on the third offense; b) for non-permanent employees who are either on job order or contract of service, they will be terminated if found guilty even on the first offense.