After Duterte’s closure order: 23 arrested for gambling

CEBU, Philippines — At least 23 people were arrested in different barangays in Consolacion and Liloan towns in Cebu following the order of President Rodrigo Duterte to suspend the games of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

The 23 reportedly operated the Peryahan ng Bayan, one of the games of PCSO.

The National Bureau of Investigation – 7 conducted an operation hours after Duterte gave the order last Friday.

“This is in compliance with the order of the president  to stop ‘ALL’  the operations of gambling, legal or maskin yung mga nauna nang nabigyan ng license ay pinapa-stop ng president… ang target natin dito, yung lahat ng gambling operation, either legal or illegal, with more reason dun sa illegal (This is in compliance with the president’s order to stop all gambling operations, including those that have been given a license… our target is to stop all gambling operations, either legal or illegal, but most especially the illegal operations),” said NBI- 7 Director Tomas Enrile.

The operation was led by the Regional Operations Services and will continue until the president’s order stands.

“Continuous ito. Lahat ng sugal ngayon, bawal. Illegal lahat (This is a continuous operation. All gambling activities now are illegal),” Enrile said.

But the police clarified that gaming activities operated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) are not covered by the president’s order.

The PNP has closed down 551 Lotto outlets; 3,482 small time Lotto outlets; 1,864 Peryahan ng Bayan outlets; and 30 Keno outlets in Region 7.

But Police Regional Office-7 Director Debold Sinas fears that the shutdown of PCSO games may encourage illegal operators if only to cater to the demand of those already used to gambling.

“We are expecting nga mga illegal nga swertes, bokis, maoy mangusog karon kay syempre, naanad na ang mga tao (nga manugal) so nangita na (We are expecting illegal activities like swertes and bokis to gain ground because people are already used to gambling so they will surely look for ways to gamble),” Sinas said yesterday.

The good news, Sinas said and as the NBI also pointed out, is that that all gambling operations – with the exception of PAGCOR games – are presumed to be illegal, thus, it is easier to spot and arrest operators.

“We are also going to re-focus to illegal gambling. Karon, mas dali na manakop kay tanan na man sugal illegal. Di na kailangan nga mangayo og clearance sa PCSO (Aside from illegal drugs, we are also going to re-focus on illegal gambling. It is easier to make arrests now because all gambling games are illegal; no need for clearance from PCSO),” Sinas said.

In line with this, Sinas said he has warned his men against accepting bribe.

“We are telling our people to refrain from receiving protection money from illegal gambling. We are doing our best to monitor this one and arrest them,” he said.

Effect

Meanwhile, Cebu City may lose at least P8 million and up to P10 million annual share from PCSO operations.

Atty. Jose Daluz III, special assistant to the mayor, said the amount is used for medical programs of the city like the City Hospitalization and Medicine Program (CHAMP).

“Ang mga nadawat na nato, pwede ra na magasto but ang moabot, if naa, dili magamit because of the order of the president (We can spend the money that we already received but the money that will arrive, if ever, cannot be used owing to the order of the president),” he told The FREEMAN.

But he said Mayor Edgardo Labella is supporting Duterte’s decision. The president has decided to shut all gaming activities of PCSO due to alleged massive corruption in the office.

“Kon i-weigh nimo as to money nga mawala nato, investment, gamay ra compared sa gibuhat sa atong president (If you weigh it based on the money that we will lose, it’s a small amount compared to the effect of the president’s order),” Daluz said.

Besides, the city has other sources of funds for its medical programs. For one, the city is also getting P4 million every month from PAGCOR.

“Ang PAGCOR is gambling money. Ang PCSO gambling pod. Ang difference is that taas og guidelines ang PAGCOR. It needs the approval of the executive and the legislative while ang PCSO is just the executive (The money from PAGCOR comes from gambling; the same with the money from PCSO. The difference is that PAGCOR has stricter guidelines because its operations need the approval from both the executive and legislative branches),” Daluz explained.

Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia, chairman of the City Council’s committee on budget and finance, said he will look into the city’s services funded by PCSO money to ensure that they will not be hampered.

“Aside from the funds they give to the city, the city’s constituents are asking funds from PCSO for their medications and hospital billings,” he said.

On the other hand, the provincial government assured it services will not be hampered because it is not dependent on PCSO money.

“Pagstop ni Duterte sa PCSO, wala man ma-affect ang social services sa province kay wa man ta magsalig sa PCSO. Wala man mohatag ug funding ang PCSO in regards sa assistance sa indigent kay referral ra man ato sa PCSO (Our social services are not affected by the shutdown of PCSO games because we are not dependent on PCSO. The agency is not giving us funds for assistance to indigents because the province just makes referrals to the agency),” said Provincial Social Welfare and Development (PSWD) Officer Wilson Ramos.

He clarified that the hospital bills of patients covered by the Malasakit program and patients admitted to district and municipal hospitals will be charged against funds of the province. (FREEMAN)