Marañon defends STL as legal

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  — Small Town Lottery is legal, according to Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., who pointed out that he is supporting it.

Marañon reacted to the statement of Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella, who questioned why the church has not campaigned against the STL operations in some places in the province unlike in Bacolod City.

Marañon defended STL, saying the local government units and the police were given shares by the operators. “Which would you prefer, legal or illegal? STL is documented and has a receipt,” unlike other numbers games that don’t give back to the government and are not transparent, he said adding that LGUs had been benefitting from STL.

Meanwhile, Puentevella was still reviewing on what action to take after the City Council approved the Resolution of No Objection, which will allow Super Lucky Beagler Inc. to operate STL in Bacolod.

The Church, for its part, vowed to campaign against government officials who voted in favor of STL. (FREEMAN)