Lacson: STL outlets of retired cops, soldiers don’t remit collections to PCSO

MANILA, Philippines — Retired police and military officers with Small Town Lottery (STL) franchises allegedly do not remit shares from their collections to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson disclosed Thursday.

“Other information would indicate na mga retired police and military officers ang nakakakuha ng franchise. Nakapangalan lang sa mga dummies pero sila ‘yung behind,” Lacson said during the Kapihan sa Senado.

While these retired officers know the regulations of illegal numbers game jueteng, Lacson said they did not use this to help the government and PCSO.

“Pagka sinabi mong dating police officer na nag-retire, alam niya ‘yung kalakaran ng jueteng. So dapat ginamit ‘yung kaalaman nila sa kalakaran ng jueteng sa mabuting paraan para matulungan ang gobyerno, matulungan ang PCSO,” Lacson lamented.

“Pero hindi. Sa halip na mag-remit nang tama, hindi na nagre-remit,” he said. “Hindi naman lalabas ang pangalan nila doon. At ‘yung mga bagong franchise holders na ‘yun nga, pagaari ng mga retired [officers], hindi nagre-remit.”

President Rodrigo Duterte recently ordered the suspension of all PCSO operated gaming activities like Lotto, STL, Peryahan ng Bayan, and Keno amid allegations of “massive corruption.” Four days later, however, Duterte already lifted his closure order but only for the Lotto game.

BIG BUCKS IN SMALL TOWN A Small Town Lottery draw is held at a franchise holder’s office in Apalit, Pampanga province. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

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

READ: Suspension of Lotto operations lifted – Panelo

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the National Bureau Investigation (NBI) would investigate the supposed failure of PCSO to remit proper government shares from STL operations.

READ: NBI probe to cover PCSO’s alleged failure to remit gov’t share from STL 

/kga