Policemen have started shutting down all lotto outlets and betting stalls for Small Town Lottery and other forms of gambling licensed by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office across the country.
This, after President Duterte declared that lotto and other PCSO-licensed games as illegal – that stemmed from the reports of a massive corruption in the agency.
Police Gen. Oscar Albayalde, chief of the Philippine National Police, said that he has already ordered all police commanders to close lotto outlets and other betting areas for various games.
“I have directed all police regional offices nationwide to launch a massive crackdown against illegal gambling and arrest anyone who will continue to engage in illegal acts,” said Albayalde.
“Those businesses that continue to operate in connection with the franchises, licenses, concessions granted by the PCSO are hereby warned to cease and desist from engaging business, following the provisions stipulated in their franchises or face consequences under existing laws,” he added.
Albayalde led the closing down of all lotto outlets in Baguio City.
In Metro Manila, several lotto outlets were closed down by policemen who started making rounds yesterday morning.
Police Major Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, director of the National Capital Region Police Office, said his instruction was to make sure that not a single lotto outlets would be operational or converted into betting games for other gambling, especially the illegal ones.
“As declared by the President, these games are already illegal so we are duty-bound to implement it. There was already an instruction from chief PNP to implement the closure,” said Eleazar.
Eleazar also instructed his men to properly explain to the owners of lotto outlets the reason why it is being closed in order to avoid misunderstanding.
Duterte announced that he will suspend the operations of all PCSO-licensed gambling while a thorough investigation is being conducted on allegations of corruption the other day. (Aaron Recuenco)
