Solons get STL fund share

Lawmakers hosting Small Town Lottery (STL) operations in their districts get a share in STL revenue, a House inquiry revealed on Tuesday.

This surfaced after Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop admitted receiving a check from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) representing his district’s share in STL, worth a little more than P1,600 for one month.

“But I have returned it officially,” he said at a House hearing.

Jesus Suntay, a member of the PCSO board, said the agency’s revenues were split three ways — 55 percent for prizes, 30 percent for charity and 15 percent for the operations.

He said a sharing scheme divided STL income as follows: city or municipality, 10 percent; provincial government, 5 percent; congressional district, 2.5 percent; and Philippine National Police, 5 percent.