Interior Secretary Eduardo Año (File photo from Malacañang)
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) insisted that Peryahan ng Bayan (PnB) remain suspended by the Office of the President (OP), following reports that the illegal numbers game had resumed operations in several areas of the country.
“Peryahan ng Bayan operations are still suspended. I have ordered the Philippine National Police to intensify its campaign against all forms of illegal gambling, including PnB,” Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement.
But Globaltech Mobile Online Corp., the gaming technology firm which operates the PnB games, said they are allowed to operate the games nationwide, saying the Status Quo Ante Order (SQAO) affirmed by the Court of Appeals (CA) with finality remains effective and valid.
In a statement, Bernard Vitriolo, vice president for legal of Globaltech, stressed that the final decision of the CA affirming the SQAO has not been recalled.
“We have never operated illegally. We are a legitimate, duly registered and law-abiding private corporation,” Vitriolo said.
PnB is similar to the small-town lottery (STL), which is regulated by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). Bet collectors go around to collect bets ranging from P5 to P20. The winning numbers are drawn.
In July 2019, President Duterte ordered the suspension of STL, PnB and keno, citing “massive corruption” at the PCSO. Only the STL and keno were eventually allowed to resume.
In October 2019, the PCSO wrote to the OP for the resumption of PnB games, but it was denied.
On Jan. 29, 2020, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea wrote the PCSO clarifying that PnB operations were still suspended, prompting the PCSO to suspend PnB games effective Feb. 6, 2020.
The PCSO filed an urgent manifestation before the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 161, stating that the PnB “does not bear the approval of the President and is therefore still subject to the suspension order of PCSO Games as pronounced by the President.”
On Feb. 18, 2020, Pasig RTC Branch 161 ordered the recall of the writ of execution it issued on Jan. 24, 2020, allowing the operations of PnB, citing the memorandum from the OP and the manifestation filed by the PCSO.
“Unless the said order is overturned by the same court or court of higher jurisdiction, the recall order is effective and should be implemented. Hence, the operations of PnB are still suspended,” Año said.
Vitriolo , however, said the Pasig RTC recall order was issued to limit the scope of their PnB games to just 15 provinces, but they had already taken legal action in the CA against the move as they insisted that the PCSO Deed of Authority allowed them to operate the PnB games nationwide.
Vitriolo stressed that a lower court cannot recall a CA ruling especially one that was final and executory.
The DILG chief issued the clarification after receiving reports that PnB operations still continue in several areas.
READ: CIDG-7 nab eight employees of unauthorized Peryahan ng Bayan outlets