Governor backs replacement of small-town lottery

GOVERNOR Alfredo Marañon Jr. said he supports the replacement of the Small Town Lottery (STL) as long as it could generate income to the government rather than enrich the operators.

Marañon also said that the police need to strengthen their campaign against illegal gambling and illegal drugs in Negros Occidental.

"We have to see if it's good and can generate income for the government," Marañon said about reports that the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) would be introducing a new legal numbers game that would replace STL.

This after President Benigno Aquino III ordered a stop to STL operation after it was discovered that it is being used for the proliferation of jueteng in Luzon and masiao or jai alai in Negros.

Based on the audit of the book of accounts of the STL operators, it was allegedly the operators who misdeclared their total proceeds from STL.

A source privy to the STL operation in the province alleged that the numbers game earnings is pegged at P142 million every month all over the province but the operator allegedly declares only P11 million every month.

The illegal operation of bookies for STL is also alleged to be part of the shortchanging, as its income is not declared to PCSO.

STL's actual gross income daily is allegedly at P4.8 million all over the province.

In Silay City alone, where the STL is being drawn three times a day, the daily income is pegged from P500,000 to P600,000, the source said. (Teresa D. Ellera)