4,249 gaming outlets closed

THE Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao has closed a total of 4,249 gaming outlets in the region.

The closure came after President Rodrigo Duterte issued a suspension order against the gaming operations of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) on the ground of "massive corruption."

"If they will continue to operate, surely, they will face the consequences under existing laws. We also encourage the public to report to us any suspected illegal gambling activity in your communities," PRO-Davao Director Police Brigadier General Marcelo Morales said.

The PCSO is a government-owned and controlled corporation under the Office of the President. It is mandated to raise and provide funds for health programs, including medical assistance and services.

The PRO-Davao implemented the closure and stoppage of all gaming scheme operations authorized by PCSO. Upon receiving the order, Morales led the implementation of the order on Saturday morning, July 27.

They led the shutting down of lotto kiosks and plastered the closure orders on all gaming outlets region-wide.

In Davao Region, there were 155 lotto outlets, 4,091 Small Town Lottery (STL) outlets, and three Keno outlets shut down, with a total of 100 percent compliance.

On July 26, Duterte gave the directive in a video message uploaded on the Facebook page of the Presidential Communications Operations Office around 11 p.m.

Duterte ordered the gaming activities to cease operation due to pending investigations on alleged corruption inside the agency.

"I have today ordered the closure, the stoppage of all gaming schemes of whatever nature, however, done, that got their franchises to do so from the PCSO," Duterte said in his message.