ILOILO City – There could be a resurgence in illegal gambling activities following the suspension of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s (PCSO) games. The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) warned their operators and minions. “We will be running after them, arrest them and file charges against them,” said Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, regional police director.
One popular illegal numbers game in the region is bookies. Its results are based on PCSO’s Small Town Lottery (STL), said Pamuspusan.
Bookies operators are expected to hold the draws themselves because STL draws have been suspended.
“We will not let them operate,” said Pamuspusan.
The director confirmed yesterday he had ordered an intensified campaign against illegal gambling.
The State condemns illegal gambling as this has become a factor in an individual’s disregard for the value of dignified work, perseverance and thrift.
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.
On July 27, 343 PCSO gaming outlets – 283 for lotto and STL and 60 for Keno – in the region stopped operating after President Rodrigo Duterte suspended all PCSO-licensed games late Friday night (July 26) due to “massive corruption.”
Duterte ordered the police and military to enforce his order.
The resurgence of illegal gambling is a possibility, according to Philippine National Police (PNP) director general Oscar Albayalde in a press conference in Camp Crame yesterday.
“We are not saying it will happen but it’s a possibility. We are currently validating the information we have been receiving regarding this,” said Albayalde.
The PNP chief said his instruction to his men was to be vigilant of numbers games in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
Across the nation, the PNP had closed down a total of 30,284 STL, lotto,Keno and Peryahan ng Bayan outlets.
There was no resistance from operators, said Albayalde.
PNP units have been given specific instructions to crackdown on all types of gaming activities operated by PCSO-franchises, more so by underground numbers game operators.
In Malacañang, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said President Duterte is determined to identify those behind the corruption at PCSO.
“There is a grand conspiracy among major players and enforcers of these government-sanctioned gaming activities and enterprises to cheat the government of its rightful share, depriving, therefore, the masses of our people of basic services,” said Panelo./PN
