DILG to small town lottery operators: Prove legality of activities

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Newly appointed Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo yesterday called on operators of small town lottery (STL) and other state-sponsored gambling schemes in the country to prove that their operations are legal.

Robredo’s order came as the DILG prepared for a renewed campaign against illegal gambling, particularly jueteng.

Robredo, the former mayor of Naga City where jueteng never flourished during his term, said he was bothered by reports that some illegal gambling operators were hiding behind STL operations.

“They (operators) should correct what must be corrected. If it’s small town lottery, so be it,” Robredo told reporters here over the weekend.

Robredo said illegal gambling must be wiped out since the illicit operations are merely used by unscrupulous officials as milking cows.

Robredo learned that jueteng continues to operate alongside STL in Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, and some parts of Albay.

Lo-teng, a combination of lotto and jueteng, is prevalent in Catanduanes and Masbate.

Sources said the no-jueteng policy of the Aquino administration is killing the illegal number operations that would result in thousands losing their livelihood.

Both STL and jueteng operators are busy hiring people as table managers, ball drawers, cabos (chief collectors), and correadores (bet collectors).

The STL operations in Albay, as an example, have hired more than 5,000 bet collectors and hundreds of cabos and table managers, a local lottery operator revealed.