NON-COMPLIANCE WITH PCSO RULES

LINGAYEN—The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) has began investigating the operations of Small Town Lottery (STL) in Pangasinan based on complaints of alleged violations and “fraudulent activities” by Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s (PCSO) authorized Agent Corporation, Speed Game Inc.

The probe began June 6 by joint committees on laws and ordinances headed by Sixth District Board Member Noel Bince and Games and Amusement headed by Second District Board Member Raul Sison.

Sison initiated the probe when he sponsored Resolution No.389-2018 during the SP Special Session on June 4 directing the conduct of inquiry on the mechanics and conduct of STL in Pangasinan.

Only Laoac Mayor Silverio Alarcio Jr., three STL bet collectors and one “cabo” attended and no one from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and Speed Game appeared despite the invitations extended to them.

Speed Game took over from Rapid Go Corporation.

Sison said one of the issues being raised against STL’s operation in Pangasinan is the suspicion it is being played no different from the illegal numbers game “jueteng” having retained features like “saclit, derecha” and “kalag”, all of which were played in jueteng.

He also accused Speed Game of violating STL’s own Internal Rules and Regulation (IRR) by paying collectors only 5% share of their day’s collections when the IRR provides for 10%.

The three bet collectors and one “cabo” present during the committee hearing admitted they are only getting 5% of their day’s collection and were not aware that they are entitled to more. The cabo gets more than the collector if somebody wins.

The bet collectors said they were getting better terms under the previous agent because they were getting seven percent, aside from getting transportation allowance, candle expenses on All Saints’ Day and goodies during Christmas.

A certain “Emir” of Speed Game allegedly pegged their share at 5%.

Meanwhile, Mayor Alarcio, the president of the Pangasinan Mayor’s League (PML), echoed the need for Speed Game to be more transparent particularly on their gross sales and net income, since towns and cities are entitled to 3% share of and 0.75% for the province based on reported sales.

He said he and the other mayors are wondering how their shares are computed in the absence of verifiable figures from Speed Game.

Alarcio said his town, Laoac, received, P23,845 in January, P37,636 in February, P50,444 in March and P46,833 in April or P158,761.95 for a four-month period as its share.

“But we have no way of verifying what their gross receipts are from which they are basing the three percent share of the municipality from the STL,” he  said.

Rosario added that one mayor of a sixth class municipality said his town was getting only P700 as its monthly share from STL.

Sison said if STL has estimates that based on gross sales of P8 million daily its net income would be around P444,000 per day. He asked: Where is this big amount of money going every day?

We have nothing against the company, Speed Game. Ang gusto namin lang ay ituwid o itama, kung mayroon po silang pagkakamali,” Rosario clarified.

According to Rosario, the next hearing will be during the Question Hour of the SP session on June 18.

Asked by newsmen what will SP do if PCSO and Speed Game continue to ignore the invitation, Rosario said “we will cross the bridge when we get there”.

Sison said the SP is prepared to declare any one who will repeatedly ignore invitations to appear without justifiable cause persona non grata in Pangasinan. (Leonardo Micua) 

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