PCSO to cut funding to PNP for ‘anemic’ action on ‘jueteng’

Calling the Philippine National Police’s response to illegal gambling as “anemic,” Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Alexander Balutan is now mulling to cut in half the charity funds that go to PNP.

At a press conference on Wednesday in Mandaluyong City, Balutan raised the possibility of sharing PNP’s allotment with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other law enforcement agencies.

Balutan announced plans to cut its funding to PNP because of the latter’s questionable focus on arresting small fry in the illegal numbers game rather than the big fish in Bicol region and Central Luzon.

PCSO generates around P60 million a day. In October 2016, PCSO inked a deal with PNP to step up efforts in clamping down on “jueteng” operations which have been competing with Small Town Lottery (STL). As part of the agreement, PCSO agreed to remit  2.5 percent of its STL earnings to the PNP.

From January to June this year, the PNP received P154 million from PCSO.

‘Illegal bookies’

In response, PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa said: “We cannot [make any] demand. It’s their money. But suffice it to say, we are doing our best.”

Dela Rosa pointed out that police operations against illegal gambling were often hampered by illegal bookies doubling as legal STL agents. This results in arresting officers being taken to court, Dela Rosa said.

“Our men have been continuously making arrests and operating against illegal gambling, particularly where legal STL owners complain that they are unable to meet their quota because of rampant illegal gambling. The PNP makes arrests but people rounded up are also agents of STL operators,” Dela Rosa pointed out.

Dela Rosa issued a challenge to the PCSO: “Let’s lay all our cards on the table. Let’s not hide any card.”

“If it’s anemic, we have to double our efforts,” he added.

Catch the big fry

Balutan said the PNP had apprehended more than 5,000 people engaged in illegal gambling.

“But this is still not enough,” he said, quickly adding: “Arrest, catch the big fry! We still heard several reports of illegal gambling as we launched the Small Town

Lottery.”

“I am determined to wage war against gambling lords and their coddlers, and I hope you are with me,” Balutan said at the press conference.

According to PCSO chair Jose Jorge Corpuz, the lottery office has downloaded about P426 million in STL charity funds to its government partners. In 2017, the PCSO earned P24 billion from its gaming products such as STL, Lotto and Keno.

From January 2017, PCSO gave PNP P154.4 million (2.5 percent of charity funds); P31.9 million to various congressional districts (0.025 percent); P185.2 million (3 percent) to cities and towns; and P54.5 million (0.75 percent) to provincial governments.

National Bureau of Investigation Director Dante Gierran said the NBI, which does not get a share of the PCSO revenues, was supportive of PCSO’s drive to stomp out illegal gambling.

The NBI has already conducted nine enforcement operations in Metro Manila and eight anti-illegal gambling operations in the provinces.