MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday said over 5,000 Philippine Charity Sweepstake Office (PCSO) lotto have been served closure notices as ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte.
The PNP said closure notices have been issued to 5,187 lotto outlets as well as 13, 320 small town lottery (STL); 2,195 Peryahan ng Bayan (PNB); and 472 KENO outlets.
PNP chief Police General Oscar Albayalde urged operators of similar establishments who have not been issued closure orders to voluntarily close down.
Duterte on Friday night ordered all gaming activities of PCSO stopped amid the alleged “massive corruption” in the agency.
“I have today ordered the closure, the stoppage of all gaming schemes or whatever nature however done that got the franchises to do so from the PCSO. The ground is massive corruption involving all…pati the courts who repeatedly issued injunctions to paralyze government and to allow corruption to thrive,” Duterte said
Following the orders of Duterte, PCSO on Saturday said it is suspending its gaming operations but added that it will appeal Duterte’s directive for the sake of its beneficiaries.
PCSO clients who purchased advanced tickets, meanwhile, have been advised to keep their tickets until further notice. /gsg