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BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
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Wednesday, February 1, 2017
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ILOILO – Small Town Lottery (STL) is now legal in this province.
Beginning today, around 600 Ilonggos have regular work, too, as the STL operator authorized by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) starts its operation.
“Our operation is a big help to the Ilonggos. All our employees are residents of Iloilo province. We are giving them work. They are entitled to benefits,” said Samuel Aguilar, chief operating officer of Eagle-Crest Gaming and Holding Corp. that secured an STL franchise from PCSO.
Eagle-Crest’s main office is in Barangay Bolong Este, Santa Barbara town.
According to Aguilar, they have already informed the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) and provincial government about their operation.
All their employees, including bet collectors, were issued with identification cards, said Aguilar.
The Iloilo Police Provincial Office welcomed the legal operation of STL. Senior Superintendent Harold Tuzon, director, expressed hope that it will mitigate illegal gambling.
Tuzon also hoped it would somehow minimize crimes.
“Kasi kung may trabaho, hindi na sila magnanakaw at gagawa ng krimen,” he explained.
But Tuzon reminded his men to continue being watchful of illegal gambling operations.
“My instruction to my police chiefs is to arrest those illegal gambling bet collectors,” he said.
In Mandaluyong City yesterday, PCSO said it was expanding the operation of STL nationwide (an additional 50 outlets) to help the government’s anti-illegal gambling drive.
“Answering the call of President Rodrigo Duterte to eliminate illegal gambling and stop corruption in the country, PCSO expands its STL operations from 18 areas since it started in 2006 to 56 areas nationwide this year,” said Chairman Jose Jorge Corpuz.
PCSO general manager Alexander Balutan warned those engaged in illegal gambling operations to stop or face arrest.
“To all illegal gambling operators, your minions and protectors, your days are numbered. You can run but you cannot hide. Go legal or else we will arrest you and file appropriate charges against you,” said Balutan.
Corpuz said PCSO also wanted to generate more funds for charity programs aimed at helping poor Filipinos.
The additional STL operations would mean an increase in revenues estimated at P27 billion, said Corpuz.
“The expected STL sales in 2017 shall mean more Charity Fund for PCSO and will subsequently translate into more beneficiaries of the various health, medical and charitable programs, including the Individual Medical Assistance Program, assistance for medicines and medical supplies, medical and dental mission and ambulance donation program, among others,” said Corpuz. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
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