BACOLOD City – “Peryahan is not illegal.”
This was the official statement of Atty. Bernard Vitriolo, legal counsel of Globaltech Mobile Online Corp., following the closure of five “Peryahan ng Bayan” outlets in Negros Occidental.
On May 19, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) shut down the operations of Peryahan ng Bayan outlets in the cities of Himamaylan and Victorias including in the towns of Murcia, E.B. Magalona and Hinigaran. NBI agents served the search warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Pasig City.
Renoir Baldovino, NBI-Bacolod head, said the Peryahan outlets were “operating illegally and without authority.”
“The Philippine Sweepstake Office (PCSO) gave the deed of authority to Globaltech in 2014 but they failed to renew it in 2016,” he explained.
But according to Vitriolo, Peryahan operations all over the country are legal based on the decision of the Court of Appeals on Feb. 15, 2019.
“The decision where Globaltech have won was final and executor. The entry of judgment was released on May 6, 2019 of the Status Quo Ante Order questioned by the PCSO,” the lawyer noted.
Vitriolo said they will be filing indirect contempt against NBI agents and PCSO officials for raiding, padlocking of collection stations and arresting its 36 personnel and bet collectors.
“Illegal yong pagsasara nila kasi sabi ng korte pweding maglaro kasi may Status Qou Ante Order,” he stressed.
Vitriolo said they are also contemplating on filing a case for ignorance of law against the judge who issued the search warrants against Globaltech’s collection centers.
“We will file all the legal moves before the Pasig City RTC possibly on May 30,” he added./PN
