PCSO official: Masiao will not affect lotto

CEBU, Philippines –  An official of the Philippines Charity Sweepstakes Office-Cebu has expressed confidence the operation of masiao will not affect the lottery even if the former will get legalized.

Chief Lottery Operations Officer Roberto Pio Cinco said the proposal to legalize illegal numbers games like masiao is not a cause of concern for them because they have their own charter to follow.

He was reacting to the bill filed by Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. seeking to legalize jueteng, masiao, swertres, first two or last two and other variant of the numbers game.

Under Barzaga’s proposal, once legalized, the operation of jueteng, masiao and their likes would be instituted into the local level “under the direct control and supervision of the local government unit with full transparency of the draws.”

He filed House Bill No. 3289 amid the controversy that a number of government officials and the police are receiving money produced out of masiao operations in several provinces.

Several “patrons” of masiao here expressed support to Barzaga’s bill, saying they would no longer have apprehensions of being arrested once it is legalized.

“Sa akong side okay ra if naa kay permanenteng kwarta pero og wala luoy pud kayo ka kay mosamot man ka’g kapobre,” said Marita Canete.

Maayo ra og legal kay aron dili ta madakpan,” Juanita Sevilla added.

A 20-year-old masiao usher said the legalization of masiao will help a lot of poor people who do not have the qualification of working in private and government entities.

“There is no need for a qualification if you will be an usher sa masiao but remember that kahago lang imong puhunan makakwarta na ka. Although illegal against gyud ko but if makatabang sa pobre, go ko ana,” he said.

Authorized lotto outlet owner Teresita Perez said there would be changes in her income once masiao is legalized.

In masiao, for very P100 bet, an usher has a 30 percent commission or P30. One can bet P1 and win P400. Winning price could reach P10,000.

Cinco said if legal games and illegal games exist together in one community, they could create a competition arena because some people may go for the cheaper one.

“As long as there are buyers of lower price there would always be products for lower prices,” he told The FREEMAN.

He explained legal numbers games operators and owners pay taxes to the government for Social Welfare Charity Funds while operators of illegal numbers game do not pay anything.

In lotto, the lowest betting price is P10, 30 percent of which will go to charity and 15 percent to taxes. (FREEMAN)