LINGAYEN—The members of Sangguniang Panlalawigan vowed to continue to investigate, in aid of legislation, the operations of Small Town Lottery (STL) in the province.

This after they grilled Editha Romero, OIC branch manager, PCSO in Urdaneta City, the only resource person who appeared for the Question Hour (QH) on Aug. 6.

The deliberation was cut short since other resource persons failed to show up anew.  Invited were Alexander Balutan, general manager of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO); Remeliza Gabuyo, assistant general manager for branch operations of PCSO; Edward Aguilar, Alfie Soriano, lawyer Gerald Gubatan, Alex Rigonan, Anthony Ang-angco, Jose Millora, who are president, district coordinator, legal consultants and provincial administrator respectively of Speed Gaming Inc.; Laoac Mayor Silverio Alarcio Jr, president of Pangasinan Mayors’ League; Senior Supt. Wilson Joseph Lopez, acting police director, who sent his representative.

Romero advised the board members to forward their complaints against Speed Gaming Inc. to PCSO’s main office for appropriated action.

Board Members Raul Sison, Angel Baniqued Jr, Noel Bince, Jeremy Agerico Rosario, Liberato Villegas, Reyes and Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr stressed they are protecting the interests and welfare of their constituents, the cabos in particular, who are reportedly receiving only 5% instead of 10% commission from their daily total collections.

Pangasinan’s daily STL collections reportedly averages P3.5-million but Sison, chairman of Committee on Games and Amusement in Pangasinan, said it’s higher.

Sison said he is in possession of sworn affidavits by some cabos attesting they only receive 5 % instead of 10% from their collections.

He said he knew all about the business having operated jueteng in the past including some of those in Speed Game today like Millora, Ang-angco, Aguilar, Soriano, etc.

He said cabos are shortchanged of millions of pesos by the STL operators.

Sison said the amount turned over to PCSO from January to June was P554,797,000. The amount given to cabos was only P27,739,000 or 5%. He said he wondered where the money was going and the board wanted to help.

He questioned Romero’s claim that cabos in the Fifth District get 10%, and when piqued she asked why the former STL franchisee in Pangasinan, Golden Go Rapid Gaming Corp. was not asked to appear at the hearing and instead Speed Game is being asked when it is able to collect and remit P117 million monthly.

“Ma’am parang may laman yung sinabi nyo,” Sison said. “Parang may gusto kayong ipahiwatig,” he added.

Romero said the highest remittance of Golden Go was P54-million only but PCSO cancelled its franchise for failing to remit its monthly bid.

When the exchange became more intense, Romero suddenly looked pale and felt dizzy prompting Calimlim, the presiding officer, to call for recess in their session.

Later, Romero’s blood pressure had shot up to 170/110 and was was advised to rest at the Vice Governor’s office.

When the session resumed, Calimlim clarified that the reason for the probes was because people who are involved are not getting “what is rightfully theirs”.

He said the board only wants the IRR (Implementing Rules and Regulations on STL) implemented.

The provincial board was set earlier to declare officials of Speed Gaming Inc. and the PCSO persona non grata for refusing to appear at the hearings, but this was not done and decided to continue the hearings “in the spirit of fairness, especially to the welfare of Pangasinenses.” (PhilStar wire service)

 

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