CAGAYAN de Oro City Councilor George Goking called on lotto operators to trust and respect the judgment of President Rodrigo Duterte in temporarily closing all Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office's (PCSO) gaming activities.
Goking said he supports Duterte's order to investigate the PCSO management.
"Si President Digong naay nakitan nga naay kalapasan, dili sa operator sa lotto but sa management. Maghuwat ta unsa advice kay kung wala ka nagremit sa government, murag naa gyud kalapasan (Duterte saw that there were irregularities, not on lotto operators but on PCSO management. We will wait for advisories because if you didn't remit in the government, then there were probably irregularities)," Goking said.
He said the City Council has not yet received any complaints from operators following the announcement of the closure order.
Goking also noted that from his observation over the years, the help extended by PCSO to the poor has dwindled.
"It is the President's call kung gusto gyud niya ireview (if he intends to review). I trust his judgment, kung mao gyud na (that is why) we will respect it," he said.
According to the police, some 191 Small Town Lottery stores, 46 lotto outlets, and 73 Peryahan ng Bayan were closed down in Cagayan de Oro.
The Cagayan de Oro City police are asking the support of the public to report any gambling schemes still operating in their areas.
Duterte ordered the closure, citing alleged "massive corruption" in the agency.
Duterte gave the directive in a video message uploaded on the Presidential Communications Operations Office's Facebook page on Friday, July 26.
"I will not honor transactions that are clearly on the side of, you know, scheming people, the Republic of the Philippines, of the money due it. Puro dayaan lahat at 'yung mga kontrata ay parang (There's cheating there and all contracts seem to be) crafted in favor of corruption and to favor other corporations and people. I will not allow it," Duterte was quoted as saying.
Shrugged by Malacañang
Meanwhile,
Malacañang downplayed Tuesday, July 30, the impact of the suspension of all gaming activities of the PCSO and assured that Duterte does not plan to abolish the agency.
In a press conference, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo stressed that the President's closure order is legal. He added that there was no need for the President to issue a written directive.
An unofficial tally by the PCSO showed that around 120,000 agents and workers will be affected by the closure of over 30,000 lotto stations and gaming outlets nationwide.
Panelo, however, said the government would not provide interventions for the displaced PCSO workers.
"I'm sure 'yun namang mga naapektuhan, hindi naman sila ganoon kahirap. Marami naman silang kinita during those times na they were operating. So I'm sure meron silang pondo to live by (I'm sure those affected are not poor. They earned money during those times that they were operating. So I'm sure they have funds to live by)," he said.
"Bakit, noong hindi pa ba sila empleyado, hindi sila nabubuhay? Do not underestimate the human spirit of Filipinos. 'Pag may dumarating na storm, o anumang sakuna, o anong mga bagsak sa ating buhay, nakakaahon naman tayo (Did they not survive when they were still not PCSO employees? Do not underestimate the human spirit of Filipinos. We can survive every time there is storm or disaster or any catastrophic events)," Panelo added.
In response to a question on whether the suspension is illegal, Panelo said, "Hindi. Unang-una, 'yung PCSO ay nasa opisina ng Presidente. Siya ang may kontrol, supervision sa lahat ng ahensya na nasa ilalim ng Office of the President (No. First and foremost, the PCSO is under the Office of the President. He has the control and supervision of all agencies under the Office of the President)."
Panelo clarified that the President merely stopped the operations of PCSO-licensed games in an attempt to rid the agency of "massive" corruption within the state gaming firm.
"He did not abolish PCSO. He ordered the closure of outlets. We're not talking of closure of this agency. We're talking of stopping massive corruption," Panelo said.
"Obviously, sa ngayon wala. Kung meron man, madali nang gawan ng paraan 'yun (Obviously, there is none as of now. But if there is such plan, it can easily be done). Whether it will entail [congressional act] or not, it will be done in a constitutional way," he added, when asked if Duterte has plan of abolishing the PCSO.
He also noted that Duterte's order was just "temporary."
"Hindi kailangan (The President does not need to sign a document). The directive of the President, even if verbal, is legal. As I said, it's legal. So if it's legal, you don't have to put down in writing," Panelo said.
"It (closure order) would appear to be [just temporary]... Iyan ay pansamantala lamang (The order is just temporary). The President wants to rid [the PCSO of] massive corruption and he has to do something about it. We have to do what the President has done," he added.
The PCSO was created through Act 4130 passed by the Philippine Legislature in October 1934 and approved by the late President Manuel Quezon in March 1935.
On June 18, 1954, Republic Act (RA)1169 was enacted into law to designate PCSO as the principal agency tasked to raise and provide funds for health programs, medical assistance and services, and charities of national character.
RA 1169, likewise, mandates the PCSO to hold and conduct charity sweepstakes, races, and lotteries as well as engage in health and welfare-related investments, projects, and activities to provide for permanent and continuing sources of funds for its programs. (With Abbey Ruth Gita/SunStar Philippines)