Privatize PCSO operations instead of shutting it down, says Gatchalian

MANILA, Philippines — The national government could privatize the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in order to stop corruption in the agency instead of putting an end to its gaming operations.

Senator Win Gatchalian had this to say after President Rodrigo Duterte recently ordered a stop to PCSO’s gaming operations due to alleged “massive corruption.”

“I-privatize na lang ang operation ng PCSO. Sa ganitong paraan, pwedeng ipagpatuloy ang operation ng lotto, maiiwasan at matitigil na ang corruption sa gobyerno, at magkakaroon pa ang gobyerno ng siguradong kita na magagamit sa pagtulong sa mga kapos palad nating kababayan,” Gatchalian said in a statement.

According to Gatchalian, the proceeds of the income coming from lotto outlets and casinos should go directly to the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD).

This, Gatchalian said, would fund social service programs of the government while securing the funds of the government.

“This way we can avoid the mishandling of funds that are supposed to be allocated to help the poor,” he said.

As for Senate President Vicente Sotto, he said that the shutdown of all gaming activities of the PCSO may be temporary once “massive corruption” in the agency is over.

“I think he is shutting down the franchises. It can always open once the corruption is unearthed and cleansed,” Sotto said in a Viber message when asked on his thoughts on Duterte’s order.

In a video message posted by Malacañang on Facebook, Duterte lamented how courts supposedly got into corruption by issuing injunctions to stop the government from going after the perpetrators of fraudulent activities.

Duterte’s order includes PCSO’s Lotto, Small Town Lottery (STL) and Peryahan ng Bayan. /je

READ: Duterte stops all PCSO gaming activities including lotto, STL