MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte said retired and active officers of the police and the military are free to own small town lottery (STL) franchises as long as it will not be tainted with corruption.
In his speech at the 118th police service anniversary at Camp Crame on Friday, Duterte said he saw no problem with generals being involved in STL but they must comply with the laws.
“Let me say this to you now. There are allegations that retired police generals are into the STL, lotto, and whatnot. I said you do not have any problem with me,” Duterte said.
“If it’s bidding, you participate, as long as it is not rigged in your favor and you secure it, complying with the laws, no corruption, I will not begrudge you,” he added. “Don’t deprive the government of money… the country and the people.”
Duterte said police and military officials should ask permission to be assigned to a place where they do not have gambling or other business operations, for the sake of “honor, delicadeza.”
“That is my advice not only to you police officers, but also the military and for that matter any government employee who is a citizen of this country, we should not be deprived of that activity,” he added.
STL operations nationwide remain suspended in line with Duterte’s verbal order to stop all games, licenses, and franchises under the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
Duterte said he does not mind police officials earning extra money from video-karera (horse racing video machine games) operations.
“Basta wala lang lokohan. If you are just content of maybe you want P50,000 and you’re able to get something like P25,000 or P20,000, be content. Do not allow your greed to run away with all the alam mo na, kalokohan,” said Duterte./PN
