DAVAO CITY (July 30) — “Effective Immediately” President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday night ordered the lifting of the suspension of lotto operations.
“The suspension on the lotto operations is lifted” says Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo few minutes ago.
“As per the advice of Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, the suspension of Lotto operations has been ordered lifted by the President,” Panelo said in a statement.
But other gaming operations of the PCSO — such as the Small-Town Lottery (STL), Keno, and Peryahan ng Bayan (PNB) — remained suspended, Panelo added.
Last Friday, July 26, has ordered the suspension of all gaming schemes as licensed by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) due to alleged massive corruption.
PCSO general manager Royina Garma in an earlier interview said she will appeal to the President to spare the lotto from suspension saying the government stands to lose P30 million revenue daily if the lotto ceased to operate.
The National Bureau of Investigation is now investigating the alleged corruption involving officials and personnel of the PCSO.
Panelo in an interview with ANC said the President “in due time will identify the culprits and identify the major players.”-ezc/NewsLine.ph
