PCSO, PNP to set up task force against illegal gambling

PCSO Chairman Jose Jorge Corpuz delivers his speech during the Launching of the Small Town Lottery (STL) expansion on Jan. 31, 2017, held at the Shangri-La Edsa in Mandaluyong City. (PHOTO BY EDWIN BACASMAS / INQUIRER)

MANILA — The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office is now in talks with the Philippine National Police to come up with a comprehensive plan to eliminate illegal gambling in the country.

PCSO Chairman Jose Jorge Corpuz and other agency officials made this announcement during the launch of the expanded small town lottery at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel in
Mandaluyong City on Tuesday (Jan. 31).

PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan said the PCSO has been holding workshops and a series of talks with the PNP and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to combat illegal gambling. A task force will be created for the campaign against illegal gambling, according to Balutan.

“After our workshop, PCSO will tell which areas have illegal gambling or have problems,” said Deputy Director General Ramon Apolinario, PNP’s deputy director for operations.

So far, there is no verified list yet of active illegal gamblers nationwide and no unit in PNP that currently looks into illegal gambling, according to Apolinario. But, Apolinario said, “If they are not in PCSO’s list (of accredited STL operators), they are illegal.”

PCSO Chairman Corpuz asked authorized small town lottery operators during the Jan. 31 launch to compel the police to go after illegal gambling operators.

“Can you tap the services of the PNP? Can you approach the CIDG in your areas of your operation? If the PNP in your areas will not be functioning, let us know. If they will not act on your complaints, we will not include them in the sharing. I am consistent. We will stop corruption. We will stop illegal gambling.”

Corpuz urged the PNP anew to help PCSO combat illegal gambling. “We include them in our charity funds so they can help against illegal gambling and be part of our charity medical program,” he said.

PCSO General Manager Balutan said the move to expand STL — the only legal numbers game in the country — has been in response to President Duterte’s marching orders to stamp out illegal gambling.

“We can’t do this alone, but with the help of our partners, the Philippine National Police (PNP), the local government units (LGUs), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), National Bureau of Investigation  (NBI), among others, plus the people’s support of the Small Town Lottery  (STL), and their vigilance,” Balutan said.

Corpuz said the STL, which expanded from 18 areas to 56, would generate revenues from P4.7 billion in 2015, P6.4 billion in 2016  to P27 billion this year.

More charity funds

Balutan said the expanded STL would add revenues to the government and increase funding for the PCSO’s charity services and charity funds for the local government units and the PNP.

“For the first time, we have a clear picture of how much funds we expect to get from small town lottery, now that it is legal, it is documented, and supervised by the government. The allocation and
utilization of these funds can be traced and properly managed,” he added.

Corpuz said that from October to December 2016, the PNP and CIDG received P118 million from the 18 STL operators. Come 2017, the PNP could receive P692 million from the PCSO through the expanded STL, Corpuz said.

According to the 2016 revised implementing rules and regulations for STL, out of the whole earnings of PCSO, 30 percent goes to the charity fund —  12.9 percent goes to the PCSO’s charity fund; 3 percent goes to the city and municipality; 0.25 percent goes to the congressional district; 0.75 percent to the provincial government while 2.5 percent goes to the PNP.

Of the 2.5 percent that goes to PNP, 0.4 percent goes to the PNP headquarters, 0.4 percent goes to police regional offices, 0.6 percent goes to local provincial office, 0.6 percent goes to local
police stations, 0.2 percent goes to the CIDG-National, 0.2 percent goes to CIDG-Regional offices, while 0.1 percent goes to CIDG provincial offices.

PNP Deputy Director General Apolinario said the PNP has indeed been benefiting from the PCSO through the charity funds and had received donations like ambulance, repair of vehicles and medicines.

Other funds can be used for operations against crimes such as illegal gambling. “The money we receive will be subject to government auditing standards. We will submit our expenditures to audit,” he said.

Breeding ground of corruption

Balutan said in the Philippines, illegal gambling has been the breeding ground of corruption, with illegal gambling operators regularly giving payola to policemen and local off9icials.

“To all illegal gambling operators, your minions and protectors, your days are numbered. I’m warning you, you can run but you cannot hide. Go legal or else we will arrest you, and file appropriate charges against you.”

He described how payola ensured protection for jueteng lords, how it filled the pockets of elected officials and government employees, allow gambling lords to continue their illegal activities, and how it can dictate the turnout of elections.

During the press conference, the PCSO announced the authorized agent corporations (AAC) that will operate in 56 different areas. They include the Diamond Gaming & Research Center Corp. in Bulacan, Lucky Pick Amusement and Development Amusement Corp in Ilocos Norte; Suncove Corporation in Pampanga; Lake Tahoe Gaming & Amusement Corp. in Olongapo City and Ramloid Corporation in Laguna.

Applications for STL are also extended until Feb 17 to the 43 areas which do not have STL operations yet, including the western district of the National Capital Region or Metro Manila, Ilocos Sur, Palawan, and Romblon, according to Corpuz.  SFM/rga