Senate keen on resuming hearing on STL

The Senate may resume its inquiry into alleged anomalies in Small Town Lottery (STL) operations amid conflicting reasons given by Malacañang and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Alexander Balutan for his unceremonious exit, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said on Sunday.

Lacson, chair of the Senate games and amusement committee, advised those interested in taking over Balutan’s previous job that they should know how to spurn at least P30 million in monthly payola from gambling lords.

Under the Duterte administration, he said the underground numbers game “jueteng” had persisted, with its operators raking in P1 billion daily.

“Since Malacañang and Balutan have different narratives, it becomes incumbent upon both parties to provide more details and substantiate their contrasting accusations,” Lacson said in a text message to the Inquirer.

“Thus, Malacañang should immediately conduct an investigation and file appropriate charges against him should evidence warrant,” he said.

“That matter should be resolved. Did he really resign or was he forced to resign? We have information that he was actually summoned to Malacañang and was told to quit his post,” Lacson said in an interview with dzBB.

Balutan insisted that he had resigned from the state lottery agency.