‘Loterya’, one-strike policy of PNP doubted

LUCENA CITY, Philippines—The government’s new lottery came under fire anew following reports that franchises to operate “Loteryang Bayan” are being cornered by financiers of the illegal numbers racket “jueteng.”

Raids on jueteng operations in Pangasinan confirm the racket was still alive despite the Philippine National Police’s one-strike policy that supposedly removes police officers if jueteng was once confirmed to be existing in their jurisdiction.

Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said the new Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s lottery simply adds to the culture of gambling already pervasive in the country.

Doubts were being raised on whether the one-strike policy was effective, especially in Pangasinan where at least 17 persons were apprehended in anti-jueteng operations by the National Bureau of Investigation.

A source said the operations confirmed jueteng still exists in Pangasinan and the one-strike policy wasn’t working.

Suarez, House deputy minority leader, said existing numbers games being run by PCSO “are enough.”

Loterya will introduce three new games: “EZ2,” where a bettor must pick two numbers from 1 to 31 with the winning combination being in exact order; “Suer3,” where one picks three numbers from 0 to 9; and “Pares,” where a bettor selects two numbers from 1 to 38.

Suarez said the country has become a nation of gamblers.