Escudero denies receiving STL share

Manila, Philippines - Sorsogon Rep. Salvador Escudero denied yesterday that he received his share from the small town lottery (STL) operation of the Oceana Gaming Corp., which began operating in the province on March 10, 2010.

Under the implementing rules and regulations of STL, Escudero and former Congressman Jose Solis were entitled to 2.5 percent of the operation of the STL firm in the province. But Escudero’s political officer Loreto Llamas, in a letter to The STAR, said the allegation that the congressman received a share is, to put it mildly, an “unfortunate mistake.”

“Rep. Escudero has always opposed the operation of the STL and it remains his policy to discourage get-rich-quick schemes such as this. He also continues to bat for more transparency in the use (both direct and indirect) of government funds and is, in fact, outraged by all the current revelations regarding their misuse,” Llamas said in his letter.

He said they are aware that the general public has always held an opinion that members of Congress are generally corrupt and probably nothing they will say will change the minds of most of the public.

“But we feel that in this instance, Rep. Escudero has been the unwitting victim of an allegation that cannot be farther from the truth. He has not and never will accept money from gambling operations, whether or not they have been legalized,” he said.

Llamas also asked The STAR to look into the credibility of the reporter’s sources and to name them.

“It is the least you can do when an allegation published in your paper does much to damage the reputation of someone who has been in public service for so long,” he said.

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) had earlier said that there was nothing illegal about congressmen receiving a share from STL operations, which is intended to fund the medical needs of the poor people in the area.

The PCSO also came out with the official list of authorized gaming corporations and their respective areas of operations all over the country.

Several congressmen, including Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, Cavite Rep. Emilio Abaya, and Quezon province Rep. Danilo Suarez, admitted receiving their shares.

Camarines Sur Rep. Arnulfo Fuentabella returned the PCSO checks representing his STL share.

The STAR got the list of congressmen from the roster of members of the House of Representatives during the 14th congress where STL operations have been operating since 2006.

The congressmen in the list were the supposed beneficiaries, according to the PCSO, but it was not yet certain if they really received their shares.

The Commission on Audit has begun looking into the STL share of congressmen.

The PCSO will also conduct an investigation on why some congressmen did not receive their share, which is a violation of the implementing rules of the STL.