Peryahan games in Iloilo province is illegal, PNP says

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The operation of the Peryahan Games, or Peryahan ng Bayan, in Iloilo province and other areas in Panay Island is illegal.

This is what the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) stressed, citing the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) as its source.

In a letter to Brigadier General Rolando Miranda, Western Visayas police director, dated July 5, 2021, the PCSO said that it has approved new Authorized Agent Corporations in Panay Island to operate the Small Town Lottery (STL).

PCSO vice-chairperson and general manager Royina Garma identified these new AACs as 7 Aces Games and Amusement Corp., which operates in Iloilo province; Iloilo Small Town Lottery Gaming Corp. in Iloilo City; 888 Good Fortune Gaming Ventures Corp in Capiz and Antique provinces; and Great Lion Gaming Ventures Inc. in Aklan.

But along that declaration, Garma clarified that the “above mentioned areas are not included in the Status Quo Ante Order issued by the Regional Trial Court of Mandaluyong City to Peryahan ng Bayan.”

The Status Quo Ante Order allowed Peryahan to operate in the meantime amid its legal squabbles with PCSO.

Further, “the Office of the President issued a Memorandum that the resumption of operation of Peryahan ng Bayan does not bear the approval of the President and therefore is still subject to the suspension order of PCSO games,” Garma noted.

A week before this, it was gathered that 7 Aces Games and Amusement Corp. has asked for a certification from PCSO attesting that the agency granted the gaming firm authority to operate STL in Iloilo province.

Garma issued the certification on June 29.

In the same letter, she also noted that “Iloilo province is not included in the fifteen areas of Peryahan Games covered by the Status Quo Ante Order issued by the Court.”

A Court of Appeals (CA) ruling dated January 2019 allowed the Peryahan Ng Bayan (PNB) numbers game to proceed pending resolution of the legal dispute involving its terminated contract.

The CA upheld on Jan. 15 the status quo ante order issued by the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 161 in May 2016, which stopped the PCSO’s revocation of the deed of authority for PNB operations.

But on April 2019, PCSO also warned the public against participating in the operation of “Peryahan Games or Peryahan ng Bayan.”

In a notice release April 10, 2019, the PCSO said the Peryahan ng Bayan run by Globaltech Mobile Online Corporation is “unauthorized and illegal.”

Several legal proceedings and announcements involving PCSO and the Peryahan operations have taken place since then.

Last year, the PCSO announced that Peryahan Games has been suspended.

“This is to inform the public that effective February 6, 2020, the operation of Peryahan Games is suspended until further instruction from the Office of the President,” the PCSO advisory said.

Several cases against Peryahan operators and employees were dismissed because of the CA’s status quo ante order.

But with the PCSO’s clarification that the Peryahan’s operations are illegal in Panay Island, the PRO-6 said they are compelled to arrest persons who take part in its activities.

On Tuesday, there were reports that the PNP Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) was to shutter a Peryahan office at City Proper district in Iloilo City.

Information claimed that the office closed before the RSOG team arrived. The office allegedly shut down for the day because there was no electricity supply following a fire the night before.

Others, however, claimed that there was a short commotion before the office was padlocked.

“With the PCSO’s letter, we would have basis in running after those involved in Peryahan Games in those mentioned areas. We would treat it as it is – an illegal gambling,” Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, PRO-6 spokesperson, said.

Violators, she added, would face charges for violation of Republic Act 9287 (An Act Increasing Penalties for Illegal Numbers Games, amending Certain Provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1602, and for other purposes).

Daily Guardian is still trying to get the comment of Peryahan operator Globaltech Mobile Online Corp.