ZAMBOANGA CITY – Following a public outcry and wide spread criticisms, President Duterte has lifted the ban on government lottery operations in the Philippines, but other number games remain suspended.
“As per the advice of Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, the suspension of lotto operations has been ordered lifted by the President. Franchise holders and operators of lotto outlets may now resume with their operations. The lifting of the suspension of lotto operations takes effect immediately,” Salvador Panelo, Duterte’s spokesman, announced on Tuesday evening.
Lotto operations are being run by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), including Small-Town Lottery, Keno and Peryahan ng Bayan which remain suspended.
Duterte cited widespread corruption for his July 26 decision to shut down the lotto operations and Small Town Lottery, Lotto and Peryahan ng Bayan. Proceeds from PCSO games go to charity and other government projects and benefit tens of thousands of poor families.
Many poor residents here criticized Duterte for closing down the lotteries and other number games, saying, their dreams to become millionaires were also killed by the fierce leader.
“Buang talaga! Pati ba naman Lotto eh ipinatigil, paano na kami? Lotto lang ang pag-asa namin makaahon sa kahirapan. Si Duterte maraming pera, mayaman yan at walang problema,” one local upholsterer, Arnold, said in reaction to Duterte’s order to stop the lottery games.
Another Lottery player, Marie Angeles, said Duterte should have not stopped the PCSO games because proceeds from it go to charity and give hope to many poor people to become millionaire. “Dapat hindi ipinatigil ni Duterte dahil sa charity naman napupunta ang mga kinikita ng PCSO tulad ng Lotto, at nakakatulong pa ito sa mga mahihirap, yun mga gastusin sa gamot, yan mga ambulansya galing ang pondo sa PCSO games,” Angeles said.
“Ang dapat na ginawa ni Duterte ay mag-imbestiga at kasuhan ang mga involved sa corruption sa PCSO kung totoo man. Marami ng tinanggal si Duterte na mga tao niya at opisyal sa ibat-ibang ahensya, pero ni isa ay walang nakulong, ngunit marami ang nailipat lang sa ibang departamento,” she added.
While suspending the PCSO games, Duterte has allowed the operations of the illegal numbers game called Jueteng.
Last month, Duterte said although he is not a fan of illegal gambling and admitted that Jueteng is unlawful, he would allow its operations because the government cannot provide alternative livelihood to those behind it. “It is not legal. It cannot be allowed. If I stop it, I must be prepared to give another livelihood scheme to the people because if you can’t find an alternative, drugs will replace the operations. That would be more deadly,” he said.
“Ako, sabihin ko sa inyo ha, kayo ‘yung mga sugal ng sugal diyan, hindi ko na pakialaman, huwag lang kayong pumasok -hindi mo talaga ma-control eh. Kaya nga kayo mag-ano, papalusutin ko kayo ‘yung mga — huwag lang ‘yang extortion at saka droga. Kung sabihin mo ‘yang mga Jueteng, Jueteng diyan sa kuwan, huwag ‘yung malaki o ‘yung mga hantak-hantak diyan, bahala na kayo. I’m not trying to encourage you, but I cannot stop it anyway at alam ko kulang talaga,” he added.
Duterte’s decision to allow Jueteng was a far cry from his June 2018 public statement in that he will not allow its proliferation. “Now if I don’t have a replacement for Jueteng, what can I do? It is easy, if there is another form of gambling that takes over. I will say – you get out of there and arrest them all – then what is the activity? Economic activity none, now if there is Jueteng, at least money goes around. Some people will get hungry, others will be able to eat, but there is commercial activity,” he said during his visit in Maasin City in Leyte province. (Zamboanga Post)
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