The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) said President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against illegal gambling will start next year.
Dubbed as “Stop Illegal Gambling, Stop Corruption”, PCSO Chair Jose Jorge Corpuz said the all-out war against illegal gambling is set early next year in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP). Corpuz turned over 10 ambulances to Pampanga province intended for different towns, district hospitals and city colleges on Thursday.
Corpuz added the PCSO and the PNP will execute the implementing rules and regulations in the campaign against illegal gambling as he warned illegal gambling operators to stop their illegal activities. Instead, Corpuz encouraged them to register as a Small Town Lottery (STL) operator.
The PCSO chair also said the PCSO and PNP will sign a memorandum of agreement on how they will execute the war against illegal gambling.
“Kung nag-i-illegal gambling ka itutuloy mo pa kaya when there is war on illegal gambling. Or you might as well go legal and apply and become an STL operator, ” Corpuz reiterated.
He added that the PCSO is looking at 18 STL corporations nationwide. In 2015, the PCSO generated P4.7 billion in revenues in the STL operations.
Corpuz said for 2017, the PCSO was expecting to have 64 registered STL corporations that could generate some P30 billion in revenues.
Corpuz confirmed they will expand their market as 224 corporations have applied to legalize their corporations.
He, however, reiterated that “there’s no illegal gambling in Central Luzon.”
He also appealed to Filipinos to support the PCSO in its campaign against illegal gambling and stop corruption.
Meanwhile, Governor Lilia Pineda has vowed to support the PCSO’s “stop illegal gambling, stop corruption campaign.”
Pineda said she is happy Pampanga is free from illegal gambling based on the assessment of the PNP.
The governor also thanked PCSO for the ambulances and the medical assistance amounting to P800,000 daily which is intended for the less fortunate individuals who need medical attention in Pampanga province.
Since November 15, 2016, PCSO had increased its allocation for medical assistance from P300,000 a day to P800,000 daily.