READ: Shut down STL to remove jueteng front – Lacson
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 9) — Retired and incumbent officers of the police and military should be free to own small town lottery (STL) franchises, for as long as they are corruption-free, President Rodrigo Duterte said Friday.
Speaking at the 118th Police Service anniversary in Camp Crame, Duterte addressed the issue of retired generals’ alleged involvement in corrupt STL practices, as earlier revealed by Senator Ping Lacson, a former top cop.
“Let me say this to you now. There are allegations that police generals retired are into the STL, lotto, and whatnot. I said you do not have any problem with me,” Duterte said.
“If it’s a bidding, you participate, as long as it is not rigged in your favor and you secure it, complying with the laws, no corruption, I will not begrudge you,” he added. “If it’s clean, you don’t deprive government of money due to the country and the people, okay sa akin ‘yun (that’s okay with me).”
The commander-in-chief however, advised police and military officials to ask to be assigned to a place where they do not have gambling or other business operations, for the sake of “honor, delicadeza.”
“That is my advice not only to you police officers, but also the military and for that matter any government employee who is a citizen of this country, we should not be deprived of that activity which can contribute to our general,” Duterte said, without finishing his sentence. He began his speech recounting how he, as a lawmaker, previously supported policemen involved in mining operations.
STL operations nationwide remain suspended in line with Duterte’s verbal order to stop all games, licenses, and franchises under the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) over the so-called “massive corruption” in the agency. Duterte has lifted the suspension on the machine-operated Lotto, but has not made up his mind on what to do with the STL.
Lascon earlier said he had received information that retired generals have been using dummies to acquire STL franchises, and that they were the ones who do not properly remit revenues to the government. This is now being investigated by the National Bureau of Investigation.
Duterte on Friday said he has a plan to address gambling issues, but refused to disclose any detail.
“This will guarantee that the government will have its rightful share. You can always open your books and I can always ask the police and military what’s happening there,” he said.
