PCSO: STL operations in Cebu City illegal

CEBU, Philippines — The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) said that all small town lottery (STL) outlets operating in Cebu City are illegal.

PCSO Cebu Branch manager Glenn Jesus Rada said that no STL outlet has been granted a permit in the city.

“There is no Small Town Lottery (STL) in Cebu City. The STL departmentalized draw, however, is conducted at our office at the North Reclamation Area,” Rada said in a statement.

He said that only Lotto and Keno agents have been granted a permit to operate in the city. These agents are allowed to sell Scratch It cards, a product of PCSO.

Rada’s statement came after Barangay Captain Marciano Ando of Carreta complained on the alleged operations of STL outlets in his barangay. Ando has called on the PCSO and Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella to take action on the illegal operations of STL not only in Carreta but in the entire city.

Ando said he had sent a formal letter to Labella before the Holy Week but he has not received a reply until now. Earlier, Ando also invited the police, PCSO, PROBE Team, and Councilor Philip Zafra to a meeting to discuss the problem.

Representatives from Police Stations 3 and 4 as well as the PCSO were present during the meeting but Zafra begged off as he was under home quarantine.

According to Ando, the operation of STL in his barangay has been very disturbing following reports that two councilmen have been suspected of protecting the operators.

“The said illegal operations are now becoming a very disturbing concern in our community, suspiciously alleging that a member or members of the barangay council are protecting the operators of these illegal outlets, allowing them to operate in our jurisdiction in exchange for a given favor or payola which we strongly deny,” said Ando. — FPL (FREEMAN)