With shutdown of PCSO games, PNP urges public to report illegal gambling
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) urged the public to report illegal gambling activities in their areas following the order by President Rodrigo Duterte to stop all Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) games for alleged corruption.
“We encourage the public to report to the police any suspected illegal gambling activity in their communities,” PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said in a statement to reporters on Saturday.
On Friday evening, Duterte ordered the closure of PCSO gaming activities including Lotto, Small Town Lottery (STL) and Peryahan ng Bayan, citing alleged “massive corruption” hounding the agency.
The President also ordered the country’s military and police forces to arrest anyone who would continue to operate the said establishments starting Saturday.
READ: Duterte stops all PCSO gaming activities including lotto, STL
With this, the PNP said they directed police offices nationwide to crack down on illegal gambling and arrest anyone who will continue to engage in these illegal acts.
PNP also warned PCSO franchise holders to stop operations or face penalties following the President’s order.
“Those businesses that continue to operate in connection with the franchises, licenses, concessions granted by the PCSO are hereby warned to cease and desist from engaging business, following the provisions stipulated in their franchises or face consequences under existing laws,” Banac said.
On Saturday morning, PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde along with Brig. Gen. Israel Dickson, Police Regional Office in Cordillera (PROCOR) regional director, served the closure order in all PCSO lotto outlets in Baguio City.
According to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), a total of 923 PSCO outlets were closed in Metro Manila, as of 1 p.m.
Meanwhile, 129 PCSO lotto outlets were closed by Northern Police District (NPD); 150 were closed by Eastern Police District (EPD); 181 were shut down by Manila Police District; 237 were closed by Quezon City Police District and 226 were closed by Southern Police District. /muf
