ILOILO City – The resumption of Small Town Lottery (STL) could intensify illegal gambling. That’s because for a hassle-free operation, operators of illegal numbers games such as “bookies” simply base their winning numbers on the winning STL numbers, according to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
When President Rodrigo Duterte suspended STL last month, “bookies” operators were forced to conduct their own draws for winning numbers, sources told Panay News.
Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, regional police director, alerted police units across the region. He also appealed for public help in the campaign against illegal gambling.
But it is not yet clear when STL operation would resume particularly in this city and Iloilo province. Without a written order from its central office, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Iloilo branch won’t give a go-signal, according to Jeanette Lloyd, branch manager.
The STL franchisee in this city is the ZFIC Gaming Corp. For Iloilo province, it is the Red Subay Gaming Corp.
According to Pamuspusan, those into illegal gambling – bettor (tayador), bet collector (cobrador), supervisor/controller of the cobrador (encargado), operator, financier, protector/coddler – would be charged with violating Republic Act 9287 which prohibits illegal gambling.
Under the law, even the mere possession of paraphernalia used in illegal gambling is deemed prima facie evidence of violation.
The State prohibits illegal gambling as it makes an individual disregard the value of dignified work, perseverance and thrift.
On July 27 the President suspended STL citing alleged massive corruption in the PCSO. Nearly a month after, on Aug. 22, PCSO general manager Royina Garma announced that the President had lifted the suspension order on STL.
All authorized agent corporations (AACs) that are compliant with the conditions of their STL agency agreement and have been remitting their guaranteed minimum monthly retail receipts may resume operation.
But there are conditions to be met. The AACs shall deposit to the PCSO a cash bond equivalent to three months of the PCSO’s share in the guaranteed monthly retail receipts (GMRR) on top of their existing cash bonds.
Upon failure to timely and fully remit their GMMRR during the duration of operations, the AAC’s cash bond equivalent to three months of the PCSO’s share in the GMMRR shall be automatically forfeited in favor of PCSO, without prejudice to the other remedies that may be exercised by the government.
Each AAC shall execute a written undertaking that it shall comply with its obligations under the STL agency agreement and will not institute any claims, monetary or otherwise, against the government and or apply for a temporary restraining order or injunction from any court to prevent the government from exercising its rights and prerogatives./PN
salamat at tinanggal na suspensyon sa stl.malaking tulong din ang stl para maiwasan ang iba na mag trabaho sa illegal. kaya mas mapapadali nalang ang pag huli ng ating maga kapulisan sa mga illegal gambling. at sana mapanagot ang mga sangkot sa korapsyon sa dahilan ng pagpapatigil sa STL.