Duterte’s verbal order on PCSO games shutdown not arbitrary – Guevarra

A PCSO lotto outlet, which had been operating since 1999, is closed on Saturday July 27, after President Duterte declared all Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) gaming illegal. Leo Udtohan/Inquirer Visayas

MANILA, Philippines — While the order of President Rodrigo Duterte to stop the gaming operations of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) is only verbal, it is not arbitrary, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra explained Tuesday.

The chief of the Department of Justice (DOJ) even stressed this was not the first time that Duterte made a verbal order to get something done.

“This is not the first time, he has given orders in the past… alam naman na ng Presidente ‘yung problema sa PCSO, matagal naman na n’yang naririnig ‘yan. Kaya lang dumating na sa point na grabe na talagang he had to take some drastic actions, this is not something that ngayon niya lang nalaman. I’m sure he has heard a lot about this for a long, long time already, ngayon n’ya lang nalaman,” Guevarra told reporters.

Asked if the directive was arbitrary since it was not put on paper, Guevarra said Duterte had a basis for his order.

“Hindi naman arbitrary kasi may pinagbasehan naman siyang information when he made that order, so it’s not arbitrary,” he added.

Guevarra also expressed confidence that the order will be made into a document soon.

“I’m sure this would be reduced into writing as well, I made a comment na for purposes of record, since this is a public official act, somehow it has to be reduced in writing, and your coverage, that’s enough record of a presidential order, but something in documentary form like a written memo or an order can be done anytime, it’s just really ratifying what he has already given verbally,” Guevarra said.

Duterte earlier ordered all gaming activities of PCSO, including Lotto, Small Town Lottery, Keno, and Peryahang Bayan to be stopped, citing “massive corruption” in the government-owned and -controlled agency.

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

Following Duterte’s order, Guevarra ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the alleged corruption at PCSO.

READ: Guevarra orders NBI to probe alleged PCSO corruption

“When the NBI conducts that investigation, it will probably summon some people operating the lotto, it will be an opportunity for them to disprove the allegations that they are cheating the government,” Guevarra noted.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Tuesday defended the legality of Duterte’s verbal order saying that a written order is not needed.

Panelo even pointed out that the PCSO is directly under the Office of the President.

“Hindi kailangan (ng written order); the directive of the President, even if verbal, is legal,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

READ: Panelo: Duterte’s verbal ban on PCSO games ‘legal’

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