Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo has ordered a stop to the Small Town Lottery (STL) in the province that he believes is operating illegally.
Degamo issued the order after learning from the senate inquiry that an STL franchise per se is legal but there are operations that are taken advantage of by private individuals without permits, thus defrauding the government of the necessary revenues.
As a result of the illegal operation, billions of the projected revenues from the operation of STL nationwide were in the hands of illegal operators, Degamo pointed out.
He told the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) branch manager Belena Alvarez that he will put in writing his stand on the operation of the STL in the province in a letter addressed to the new general manager.
Alvarez paid a courtesy call on Gov. Degamo on Thursday at the Capitol.
Degamo has directed the police to dismantle STL kiosks, booths, or substations found in the barangays that are operating illegally because government had been prejudiced.
He said he has received reports that a lot of private individuals established what looks like an STL kiosks but are in fact receiving bets on the illegal “swertres” and remit the same to their “boss” who allegedly has siphoned all the money.
The governor further said this is the reason why illegalists in the province wanted him out of office because he is determined to run after them.
But for PCSO branch manager Belena Alvarez, Four Aces Corporation being represented by Christopher Santiago is still the approved franchisee as operators of STL in the province unless superseded or unless they will receive a memorandum from the national office to stop the same.
She further said the Four Aces is an Agency Authorized Corporation (ACC) with a PCSO board approval. While it can’t be accused of operating illegally, it has to comply with all the requirements, one of which is for the corporation to remit PHP 21 million in revenues to the PCSO every month.
Records, however, showed it has not complied with this agreement. She was told by the corporation that their revenues is affected by the illegal numbers game swertres.
Of the projected revenues due the government of PHP 21 million a month from STL operations in the province, the corporation is remitting only from PHP eight million to PHP 10 million a month, Alvarez told reporters.
Meanwhile, Rep. Arnulfo Teves, Jr. of the 3rd district of Negros Oriental clarified that the corporation is not required to remit PHP 21 million a month.
Instead, it is a percentage of the PHP 21 million presumptive monthly retail receipt (PMRR) or from 30 percent to 35 percent of the gross, which is about PHP seven million, Teves said.
The solon also clarified that he is not the owner of Four Aces Corp. which is authorized to operate Small Time Lottery in Negros Oriental.
Gov. Degamo, during a special meeting of the Negros Oriental Provincial Advisory Council (PAC) of the Philippine National Police (PNP), reiterated his warning, telling provincial police director Sr. Supt. Edwin Portento that he wants the STL in the province to be stopped. (Juancho Gallarde/PNA)
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