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[av_heading heading=’ STL seeks mayors’ help to defeat ‘bookies’ ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Wednesday, august 2, 2017
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ILOILO – Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s (PCSO) Small Town Lottery (STL) franchisee in this province has sought the help of municipal mayors to combat illegal numbers games such as the pervasive “bookies.”
According to Ajuy mayor Jett Rojas, president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Iloilo chapter, Eagle-Crest Gaming Corp. appealed to local chief executives during the league’s meeting on July 28.
“Bookies” was putting up stiff competition to STL, Eagle-Crest general manager Sam Aguilar told the mayors, said Rojas.
“He appealed to the mayors to support the campaign against illegal gambling kay wala income ang gobyerno through STL,” said Rojas.
Mayors are against illegal gambling, stressed Rojas, but a lot hinge on how active the police are in running after illegal gambling operators and their minions.
“In Ajuy, for example, we do not have a problem with illegal gambling because our police force under Chief Inspector Charlie Sustento is very active in the campaign,” said Rojas.
The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) gave police chiefs 15 days beginning July 24 to stamp out illegal gambling in their respective turfs or be relieved from their posts.
The 15-day ultimatum ends this Aug. 8.
Senior Superintendent Marlon Tayaba, IPPO director, observed that illegal numbers games such as “bookies” persist despite the operation of STL.
PCSO expanded the operation of STL nationwide to help the government’s anti-illegal gambling drive.
“Answering the call of President Rodrigo Duterte to eliminate illegal gambling and stop corruption in the country, PCSO expanded its STL operations from 18 areas since it started in 2006 to 56 areas nationwide this year,” said PCSO chairman Jose Jorge Corpuz recently.
The Police Regional Office 6 announced two months ago it was patterning its campaign against illegal gambling to its antidrug drive. It ordered tokhang or house-to-house operations on suspected illegal gambling personalities.
According to Superintendent Gilbert Gorero, spokesperson of the regional police, the strategy involved knocking (toktok) on houses and convincing (hangyo) suspects to stop their illegal activities.
In this campaign, uncooperative suspects will be subjected to anti-illegal gambling operations.
“We are really serious in this campaign,” said Gorero./PN
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