PCSO disowns trial run of Loterya ng Bayan

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) disowned yesterday the supposed trial run of the Loterya ng Bayan that is allegedly being used as fronts of gambling lords in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

PCSO chair Margarita Juico and general manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas II urged the police and other law enforcement agencies to intensify the crackdown on the supposed dry run of the PCSO Loterya ng Bayan (PLB) in the metropolis.

The PCSO is set to launch the PLB to replace the discredited small town lottery (STL) when the licenses issued to STL operators expire next year.  

Juico said PCSO had activated STL as an alternative to the illegal numbers game jueteng as part of the efforts to eliminate illegal gambling nationwide.

The police, however, confirmed that the STL has been used as a front of jueteng operators, prompting the government to phase out the game.

Juico said the PCSO is helpless about the proliferation of illegal numbers game, particularly in Metro Manila because the agency has no authority to enforce the law.

She said the duty of the PCSO is to raise funds for health programs, medical assistance and services and relief operations.

“The mission of the PCSO is to provide better ways of serving the disadvantage and marginalized sector,” she added.

There were reports that some gambling lords who have pending applications for franchise to operate the Loterya ng Bayan have allegedly started to test run in areas where there are no existing STL operations.

Bet collectors posing as PLB personnel have started getting bets for the supposed dry run of the loterya in Metro Manila.

Juico urged the police to arrest and file charges against the illegal PLB operators.

At least 200 gaming corporations, including existing STL operators, have applied for permits to operate the PLB in various parts of the country.