PCSO's STL audit out next week

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) is expected to complete its audit of gaming corporations operating small town lotteries (STL) by next week.

PCSO director Aleta Tolentino said the audit includes the evaluation of the project and the gaming companies’ compliance with PCSO’s implementing rules and regulations.

She said the launching of PCSO Loterya ng Bayan (PLB) has been deferred pending further evaluation of STL operations in various parts of the country.

At least 232 gaming corporations, including existing STL operators, have applied for a permit to operate PLBs in their respective localities.

The PCSO assured the public that it will tighten the screening of applicants to ensure that only legitimate gaming corporations and not fronts of big time illegal gambling operators get accredited.

PCSO records showed that applications to operate PLBs were filed for Pangasinan, Bulacan, Zambales, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Pampanga, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Quirino and Cagayan.

At least seven applications were filed for Pangasinan alone.

There were also applications to operate PLB in Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and Sorsogon.

Gaming corporations from the National Capital Region also filed PLB applications for the cities of Makati, Marikina, Pasay, Quezon and Taguig.

There were also applications in Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu, Leyte, Iloilo, and Zamboanga City.

PCSO is launching PLB to replace STL, which has been used as a front for jueteng.