MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Huge losses incurred during the past few months and widespread corruption had prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to order the stoppage of lotto, small town lottery and all other gaming features of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Senator Christopher 鈥淏ong鈥� Go bared Monday.
Go said no less than the PCSO General Manager Royina Garma had informed聽 the President about the said losses.
鈥淣ag report po yung bagong general manager po ng聽 PCSO na si聽 Royina Garma, yung bagong talagang general manager, and she reported na kelangan nya po ng tulong ng Pangulo聽 dahil聽 talagang hirap syang sugpuin yung korapsyon sa PCSO at napakalaking losses na po ang nangyari聽 in the past few months sa operations po ng some games po ng PCSO (The new PCSO general manager sought the President鈥檚 help in combating massive corruption and the huge losses incurred),鈥� Go told reporters聽 on Monday.
Asked聽if the said situation resulted in President鈥檚聽directive to halt PCSO鈥檚 lottery and other games, Go said yes.
鈥淗iniling nya (Garma) sa Pangulo ng silipin, tulungan sya聽 sugpuin yung korapsyon at mabalik yung mga losses po, mabayaran yung mga losses,鈥� Go said.
He clarified though that it was the President鈥檚 decision, and聽not the general manager鈥檚 suggestion, to聽call off聽all PCSO聽 gaming activities, pending an investigation.
Go could not say how much losses had been reported by the general manager, but bared that a huge amount is involved.
He added that he too cannot say when or whether or not the President鈥檚 directive will be lifted.
鈥淏asta ang sabi聽 lang ni Pangulo stop the graft and corruption sa PCSO saka nya po聽bubuksan muli yung palaro,鈥澛� Go said.
Last Friday,聽 Duterte ordered the stoppage of all gaming schemes of the PCSO 聽due to 鈥渕assive聽 corruption.鈥�
鈥淧ending investigation, lahat ho ng laro ng lotto, STL, Peryahan ng Bayan, or whatever nature, there鈥檚 one that 鈥榶ung gambling machine, Keno, I said all gaming activities. 鈥榊ung gambling, that got the franchise from (the) government through PCSO, are, as of today, suspended or terminated because of massive corruption,鈥澛� the President said. /gsg
READ: Duterte stops all PCSO gaming activities including lotto, STL