Financier of illegal STL could be based in Escalante City

Abner Canal, owner of the house in Binalbagan town that was rented by the illegal operators of small town lottery, explains his side at the NBI-Bacolod Monday, August 15, 2022. (TDE)
Abner Canal, owner of the house in Binalbagan town that was rented by the illegal operators of small town lottery, explains his side at the NBI-Bacolod Monday, August 15, 2022. (TDE)

THE financier behind the illegal operation of two betting stations of small town lottery (STL) in Binalbagan town and Sipalay City, Negros Occidental could be from Escalante City.

This came out Monday, August 15, 2022, after the owner of the rented house at Barangay Santo Rosario in Binalbagan town that was used as a betting station surfaced and gave his statements to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-Bacolod.

Abner Canal said that he went to the NBI after receiving a subpoena and to clear his name.

"They stayed in their rented room in our house for four days only after they could not present any permit and franchise from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO)," Canal said, referring to those who rented his place.

He said their betting papers had no logo from the PCSO, which led him to conclude that they had no authority so he told them to leave their house.

Canal added that renters told him that they used to operate in the town’s Barangay Payao but they didn't have enough income there so they decided to move to the town proper.

"When the NBI operatives arrived at my home they [renters] had already left," he also said.

Cañal added that a certain “Lizelle” from Escalante City was the one who transacted with him to rent a room in their house used by three male collectors of the bets.

He identified them only by their nicknames “Cookie,” “Nonoy” and “Val."

Cañal admitted that he has "a big liability as the owner of the house."

For his part, NBI-Bacolod agent-in-charge lawyer Renoir Baldovino said they are pressed to file charges against the owners of the house in Binalbagan and in Sipalay City that were used as betting stations.

Under Republic Act 9287, or "An Act Increasing the Penalties for Illegal Numbers of Games, Amending Certain Provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1602, and for other purposes," Baldovino said, anyone involved in the operations of illegal STL, and even arrested bettors, who will be convicted for such offense, will be imprisoned from 30 to 90 days.

For the staff owners of the lot or building, they may face six to eight years of imprisonment, eight to 10 years for a solicitor, 10 to 12 years for for coordinator and supervisor, 12 to 14 years for its maintainer, manager and operator, 14 years to 16 years for financier, 16 to 20 years to protectors, as well perpetual disqualification of holding public office, especially those connected in the government, he added.

He said that the Super Lucky Beagler Inc. is the only outfit authorized by the PSCO to operate STL in Negros Occidental.

"We now have an identity of the financier of the illegal operation of the STL but we can't disclose it this time as further investigation is ongoing," Baldovino said.

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