Operations of STL in Capiz ‘illegal’

By Felipe V. Celino 

 

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – The operation of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO)’s Town Lottery (STL) in the province of Capiz is allegedly illegal.

This was the reaction of a gambling operator that formerly engaged in legal gambling operations in Capiz.

The gambling operator who asked not to be named said that the operation was illegal considering that no one has been given any franchise by PCSO to operate STL in the province.

Under the recent STL announcement posted in the newspapers, only Iloilo province has Authorized Agent Corporations (AAC) under the name Iloilo Small Town Lottery Gaming Corporation (ISMLGC). Its franchise also includes Guimaras.

The gambling operator added that bettors are being fooled because the results are drawn in Guimaras, not in Capiz.

The PCSO announced that they allowed 59 AACs to legally operate in their areas of responsibilities and Capiz was not included in the list.

Earlier, the PCSO informed the public that effective Oct. 1, 2020, STL operations by AACs that were operating before the suspension of operations due to COVID-19 pandemic will resume provided that they will comply with several conditions.

The PCSO said that STL AACs will be allowed to resume with their gaming operations if they “have no shortfall or deficiency in the cash bond” as certified by the Branch Operations Sector and Accounting and Budget Department.

It added that the concerned STL AACs must have complied with the approved health and safety protocols for STL as inspected and endorsed” by the Branch Operations Sector.

Likewise, PCSO noted that only the STL AACs that signed the Deed of Undertaking prepared by the PCSO Legal Department for the “resumption of operations under the adjusted remittance scheme” as approved by the Office of the President will be allowed to assume their STL operations.

The STL was among those covered by the suspension of PCSO’s gaming operations since March due to the COVID-19 situation in the country.

Initially, only select areas were allowed to resume their STL operations.

On Sept. 16, the PSCO said STL gaming operations have resumed in the provinces of Ilocos Norte and Nueva Vizcaya.

A week after, STL gaming operations were allowed to resume in Abra, Nueva Vizcaya, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Surigao Del Sur, Davao Del Sur excluding Davao City, and Olongapo City, Zambales effective Sept. 23.

The PCSO thanked the public for its continued support of the STL as well as the Lotto games, Digit games, Keno, and Instant Sweepstakes Scratch It tickets.

It reminded the public to remain vigilant and observe health and safety protocols implemented by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and Local Government Units (LGUs).

The PCSO had earlier said that the status of operations in various areas might change if these are placed under the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) or the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ).

Part of the proceeds from the games is used by the PSCO to fund its charity programs including the Medical Access Program (MAP), Patient Transport Vehicle (PTV) Donation Program, Medicine Donation Program, Medical and Dental Mission Program, Calamity Assistance Program, Institutional Partnership Program (IPP), and Integrated Health for Overall Productivity and Empowerment (I-HOPE).