Lotto outlets may now remove ‘closed’ signs

Gen. Oscar Albayalde, PNP chief, leads the closure of a Lotto outlet in Baguio City. (Photo BRIDGETTE MARCASSI / Contributor)

MANILA, Philippines — Lotto operators may now remove the “closed” signs posted by the police at their outlets, according to Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, spokesperson of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Banac issued the statement on Tuesday shortly after President Rodrigo Duterte lifted the suspension of the numbers game operated by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

According to Banac, Gen. Oscar Albayalde, PNP chief, had ordered all units to visit all Lotto outlets and assist operators in removing the signs if needed.

Earlier, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo announced the lifting of the suspension, saying the President gave the order upon the advice of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

READ: BREAK: Suspension of Lotto operations lifted – Panelo

According to Medialdea, investigators found no anomalies in the conduct of Lotto operations, which led to the lifting of its suspension.

Other gaming operations of the PCSO — such as the Small-Town Lottery (STL), Keno, and Peryahan ng Bayan (PNB) — remained suspended.

Last Friday, July 26, the President earlier ordered the suspension of gaming operations handled by the PCSO due to alleged “massive corruption” within the agency.

Since then the PNP had shut down the following number of gaming outlets:

• 6,313 Lotto
• 20,241 Small Town Lottery (STL)
• 2,762 Peryahan ng Bayan
• 778 Keno
• 190 STL drawing centers

/atm