PCSO files complaints vs illegal e-lotto operators

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Mel Robles on Wednesday filed a complaint before the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor’s Office against four firms over unauthorized lottery operations.

According to the PCSO, the complaint was for usurpation of authority under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code, violation of Republic Act (RA) 1169, as amended, violation of Presidential Decree 1602, as amended by RA 9287, in connection with Executive Order 13, Series of 2017.

In the 9-page complaint, Robles said they received reports that several websites used the logo of the PCSO and PCSO lottery games despite a lack of authorization to do so.

“Lahat ng online ngayon ay illegal, using PCSO logo,” Robles said in an ambush interview.

(All the online lottery games using the PCSO logo are illegal right now.)

He said the PCSO would launch its e-lotto application in November.

Robles also warned that they would continue to chase after illegal operators.

“Again, hindi po kami magsasawa na tugusin ang mga illegal, especially those who use… our name. Kasi akala naman talaga ng mga tao, sila ‘yung e-lotto ng PCSO,” he said.

(Again, we will not tire of going after illegal operators, especially those who use our name. Because people think they are the e-lotto of the PCSO.)

“Lalo ngayon nag intensify sila kasi nag announce kami. So ang dami nag sulputan, claiming to be PCSO, the e-lotto. Kaya, this will be the first of the many cases na ifa-file namin,” he added.

(There are more of them now because of our recent announcement. A lot of them appeared, claiming to be PCSO, the e-lotto. So, this will be the first of the many cases we will file.) — DVM, GMA Integrated News