Stricter STL rules poised to end jueteng, PCSO says

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office is set to release stricter implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for its small town lottery operations supposedly to finally put an end to the illegal numbers game jueteng.

PCSO chairman retired Director Jose Jorge Corpuz and other officials met with the Philippine National Police officials, regional directors, and city directors Thursday to seek help for the nationwide expansion of the STL.

"(The IRR) is tool to educate the Filipinos, officials, and politicians to stop graft and
corruption," Corpuz said in a news conference following his meeting with the police officials.

"[The meeting] is also to get the cooperation of PNP to announce that STL is the only legal numbers game that will operate in the country. New IRR and memorandum of agreement will be signed by the PCSO and PNP soon,” he added.

He said under the IRR, there will be no instance should the authorized agent corporation or operator give money or consideration to politicians, police officials, and local officials.

“Once they give any amount, it will cause termination of their contract. It is also their obligation to report to PCSO if there is existing illegal gambling in their area or appropriate charges will be filed against them,” Corpuz said.

“Naging too normal na kasi yung tanggap dito, tanggap doon,” he said.

He said the PCSO and PNP now have one mind and one voice and now works together as a team to fight illegal gambling.

“We were told already by the president that is next year the campaign will be against illegal gambling. Ngayon pa lang prelude to war on illegal gambling. We are just preparing for war,” Corpuz said.

He said at present there are only 18 authorized agent corporations all over the country as the past board did not open STL to other agents.

“There are 189 STL operators who wants to operate pero hindi binuksan ng board. The new board, with General Manager Alex Balutan, we decided to open market to new players in STL,” Corpuz said.

He said new operators can file their application from October 1 to 31.

Corpuz said the entry of new operators will increase the revenues of the PCSO.

He said with only 18 corporations, amid underreporting and limited market, some P4.794 billion were remitted in 2015.

Corpuz expects the revenue collection to increase to P11.5 billion in 2017 when the STL operation has been expanded.

He believed the people doing illegal gambling will stop their illegal business and go legal.

“We believed they are now applying to legalize their business,” Corpuz said.

Asked if the PNP could simultaneously do the campaign against illegal drugs and campaign against illegal gambling, Deputy Director General Francisco Uyami, deputy chief for administration, said it could be done.

“Tuloy pa rin ang campaign against illegal drugs while ito namang expansion of STL, that is the campaign ng PCSO but tutulong ang PNP.  With the new PCSO management, they are also going to conduct Oplan Tokhang in illegal gambling,” he said.

Uyami said the PNP did not want to come up with a list and they are happy that some of the big time gambling lords are now talking with them and expressed readiness to cooperate.

“Yes we know them (big time gambling lords) but  as much as possible we don’t want to come up a list. They approached new board and told us they are cooperating, they want to support to campaign against illegal gambling,” he said.

Uyami said that under the new plan, the PNP would be given 2.5 percent share of the STL revenue.

"Merong share ang PNP to use in the fight against illegal gambling. That is the purpose. 2.5 percent very small," he said. —NB, GMA News