The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office has revealed that illegal gambling continues to thrive in areas where Small Town Lottery is being operated and has asked local chief executives to revoke the business permit of Meridien Vista Gaming Corp. as it is allegedly being used as a front for “jueteng,” an illegal numbers game.
The PCSO said jueteng continues in areas where STL is being operated by Authorized Agent Corporations.
Last month, the PCSO launched the expanded STL with 56 AACs that is expected to generate P27 billion in revenues for the government’s charity services meant to buy medicines and support government health programs.
The STL is the only legal numbers game recognized by the government.
“We are calling all mayors of cities and municipalities to withdraw or revoke the permits they issued for or in behalf of Meridien considering that PCSO-STL is the only legal numbers game in the country,” PCSO Chairman Jose Jorge Corpuz said in a statement.
The PCSO claimed that Meridien was supposed to operate only within the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority but extended into several provinces and cities in Luzon and Visayas.
“We are appealing for your full support for the success of the expansion of the STL operations and we trust that we can continue our good partnership,” the PCSO said in a letter to chiefs of police in all provinces to protect the interest of STL in their respective areas of jurisdiction. (Jenny F. Manongdo)
