Investigation into the closure of 2,000 lotto outlets underway

February 1, 2024 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives on Tuesday investigated the closure of some 2,000 lotto outlets by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

The House committee on ways and means earlier received a complaint that PCSO had abruptly shut down lotto outlets “to give way to e-lotto.”

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Rodriguez calls for PCSO chief Robles to step down in light of the e-lotto controversy. He urges Robles to take responsibility for the fiasco and resign from his position to restore public trust in the agency. Rodriguez believes that the mishandling of the e-lotto issue reflects poorly on the PCSO and its leadership, and that Robles’ resignation is necessary to uphold the integrity of the organization. He emphasizes the importance of transparency and accountability in the government, and asserts that stepping down is the appropriate course of action for Robles in this situation.

July 30, 2024

There is a call for a House inquiry to be conducted regarding the e-lotto deal of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). The investigation aims to shed light on the details and circumstances surrounding the controversial agreement. Lawmakers are urging for transparency and accountability in the implementation of the e-lotto deal, amidst concerns of possible irregularities and mismanagement. The inquiry seeks to ensure that the PCSO is operating in a manner that upholds integrity and serves the best interests of the public. The House inquiry on the PCSO’s e-lotto deal is seen as a crucial step towards addressing any issues and restoring public trust in the institution.

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Clariz Imperial, who works for the Philippine Online Lottery Agents Association, lamented that some lotto outlets had been operating for only three months when their contracts were terminated.

“Many of my tellers are now going hungry… They should have given us due process,” she said.

Panel chair Albay Rep. Joey Salceda expressed concern over the welfare of lotto agents and personnel.

“Are you eliminating lotto outlets for e-lotto?” he asked.

PCSO assistant general manager Remeliza Gabuyo denied the accusation, explaining that the closure was due to the PCSO’s transition to the Philippine Lottery System.

“The past management decided that we only procure 6,500 terminals and at that time, we already had 8,500 lotto agents,” she said.

PCSO lawyer Kat Contacto said the contracts of 2,000 lotto agents were terminated since they were “underperforming as far as their sales were concerned.”

No lotto outlets have been shut down due to a ticket cancellation issue or the e-lotto implementation, she added.

Lone bettor wins P56.6 M

Meanwhile, a lone bettor from Pililla, Rizal won the Lotto 6/42 jackpot worth P56.6 million on Tuesday night.

PCSO general manager Melquiades Robles yesterday said the winner correctly guessed the winning combination, 38-20-19-04-16-40.

Second-prize winners, 45^{In total, won P24,000 each.}

The Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law imposes a 20 percent tax on all lotto winnings above P10,000.– Rainier Allan Ronda