Anti-gambling prelate retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz said he won’t be surprised if Stanley Ho, the so- called King of Gambling, would be interested in buying the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor).

“There is the great probability that Mr. Stanley Ho himself, together with his other gambling pals, would be the first and winning bidder in the sale of Pagcor,” Cruz said in reaction to reports President Aquino is open to privatizing Pagcor.

Earlier, President Aquino told reporters he was open to privatizing Pagcor, the government-owned and –controlled corporation running casinos and other games of chance.

But Aquino said he would have to evaluate its record first.

Cruz, however, is convinced that the privatization of Pagcor would not help stop the spread of gambling in the country.