PCSO head finds PNP's war on jueteng disappointing

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Alexander Balutan on Wednesday expressed disappointment over the Philippine National Police's supposed lack of commitment in eliminating jueteng and other forms of illegal gambling.

In a statement, Balutan said the PNP has yet to fulfill its part in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) tasking it to "eradicate all forms of illegal numbers game" and protect the revenue of the state-sanctioned Small Town Lotteries (STL).

The MOA, signed in January, decreed that 2.5 percent of the PCSO's earnings in STL will be allocated to PNP and its offices, which have jurisdiction over the locations where STL tickets are sold.

“I am disappointed and dismayed by their performance,” Balutan said.

The PNP has reportedly received P154 million from the PCSO since the MOA was signed.

Balutan, a retired Marine general, said they received reports of police officials receiving payolas from gambling lords in spite of Executive Order 13.

“Ang nangyayari, ‘yung maliliit lang gaya ng bet collector ang hinuhuli nila at hindi ang mga malalaking isda gaya ng illegal gambling financier. Kaya patuloy pa rin ang illegal na jueteng, masiao at iba pang uri ng illegal numbers game sa ibang mga lalawigan sa bansa,” he said.

EO 13 or Strengthening the Fight Against Illegal Gambling and Clarifying the Jurisdiction and Authority of Concerned Agencies in the Regulation and Licensing of Gambling and Online Gaming Facilities, and for Other Purposes - was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in February.

Under EO 13, the PNP, the National Bureau of Investigation, and other law enforcement agencies must coordinate with various departments including gambling regulatory authorities to investigate illegal gambling activities.

“We sincerely tried to involve them in what we believe will serve the people. Instead, they have chosen to serve crime lords,” Balutan said. —Rie Takumi/KBK/KVD, GMA News