BACOLOD City – The crackdown on all betting games operated by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) here and in Negros Occidental was generally peaceful, said police authorities.
According to Colonel Henry Biñas, Bacolod City Police Office director, they have successfully closed down 77 PCSO-run gaming stations on Saturday.
Biñas said betting station operators voluntarily closed their outlets.
“We peacefully enforced the directive of the President within the city’s 61 barangays,” he added.
In Negros Occidental, 85 gaming outlets were shut down, said Police Provincial Office director Colonel Romeo Baleros.
“Those that will continue their operation will be apprehended,” added Baleros.
The crackdown is part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s order on Friday to suspend all gaming schemes under PCSO such as lotto, Peryahan ng Bayan, small town lottery, and Keno.
Duterte cited the massive corruption within the agency.
PCSO is the main government agency mandated to raise and provide funds for the health programs, medical assistance, and services, and charities of national character.
In 2018, the Commission on Audit reported more than a third of the PCSO’s charity fund for 2017 was not used for charity programs as mandated by law.
COA said P5.89 billion of the charity fund was used for various purposes not related to health programs, medical assistance services, and other charities, violating Republic Act 1169./PN
