Lawmaker accuses PCSO of violating own rules

MANILA, Philippines — Camarines Sur Representative Luis Ray Villafuerte on Wednesday claimed that the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office defied its own rules for allowing the operations of a gaming firm despite committing violations.

During Senate inquiry into the controversies involving the agency, Villafuerte accused PCSO of sitting on a complaint against “illegal” gaming firm Evenchance.

“Evenchance is still operating illegally in Camarines Sur despite the overwhelming preponderance of evidence,” he said.

Villafuerte alleged that Evenchance accepts bets from minors and outside small town lottery stations or substations with some employees not wearing prescribed uniforms and IDs and issues tickets not within PCSO-prescribed form and design.

He also said that the gaming company fails to attain and remit the Presumptive Monthly Retail Receipts, or the amount of sales determined by PCSO subjected to periodic review, on time.

Villafuerte emphasized that Evenchance only remitted an accumulated P893,567,756 from March to October 2017.

“Based on the clarity and overwhelming preponderance of the evidence against Evenchance, they have, without a doubt, repeatedly violated and are still violating the STL Implementing Rules and Regulations,” the solon said.

Villafuerte added: “I believe that is not only happening in Camarines Sur. This is happening nationwide. The government is being defrauded, lot of laws are being violated. If you allow your agent to violate, then you are liable.”

He said that he sent a letter to the PCSO to cancel and revoke the franchise of Evenchance. Villafuerte received a reply from PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan last December 19, saying the agency is conducting ongoing investigations.

During the Senate probe, Balutan said that the agency is not tolerating anything violates the IRR.

“All the violations mentioned, we are not tolerating them. In fact, immediately after the Congressional hearing, we summoned the Philippine National Police and asked them to investigate the violations. As far as we’re concerned, we have no law enforcement authority so we coordinated,” Balutan said.

But Sen. Panfilo Lacson, a former PNP chief, said the responsibility still lies with the PCSO.

“You have the ultimate responsibility because you are the regulatory. You can’t just point to the PNP for not doing their job in the area of law enforcement,” he said.