MANILA, Philippines ? President Benigno Aquino III on Friday said he ordered an investigation of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) and the proliferation of gaming establishments in areas not considered tourist destinations.

?You?re all witnesses to the proliferation of so many gaming establishments and some of them I don?t agree with,? Aquino told reporters after the inauguration of the Philippine National Police School for Values and Leadership in Subic, Zambales.

Asked for examples, Aquino said: ?Just go around and you will a lot of these [gaming establishments]. There?s one in Cavite. Actually there?s already one in Tagaytay but there?s also one in Cavite. There?s also a proposal to put one in Tarlac? and in Tarlac we will admit we are not a tourist destination.?

Aquino said gaming establishments should target the tourism industry and should be set up in areas that are considered tourist destinations.

He particularly raised concern over the proposal to put a gaming establishment in his home province of Tarlac as there are already gaming establishments in the nearby towns of Angeles in Pampanga and Subic in Zambales.

Aquino said he was open to privatizing Pagcor after evaluating the gaming agency?s records for the past nine and a half years under the Arroyo administration.