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Lotto operations back; ,CSO
PCS loses P250 million
,OTTO operations resumed
rn Wednesday after the state-
)wned charitylost at least P25O
nillion from a four-day suspen-
ion by President Rodrigo R.
)uterte, the Philippine Char-
ty Sweepstakes Office (PCSO)
aid yesterday,
Mr. Duterte had lifted the sus-
rension "tiecause investigators
ound no anomalies in the con-
luct of its operations," presiden-
ial spokesmal Salvador S. Panelo
aid in a statement late Tuesday.
Its sanctity remained untainted
Lnd the regulatory rules have
reen followed."
All the othe! gaming operations
with fraachises, licenses and pet-
mits given by PCSq such as small-
towr lottery Keno and Peryahar
ng Bayan remained suspended
pending investigation, he said.
These were being probed for
illegal activities including cor-
ruption and Mr. Duterte wants
to first evaluate the results of the
investigation, Mr, Panelo said.
The losses covered only lotto,
PCSO Geleral Manager Royina
M. Garrna said at a televised brief-
ing yesterday,
Nelson Santos, chairnan of
the Philippine Online Lottery
I
Agents Association, 1nc. (PO-
LAI) said not all lotto outlets
have resumed operations due to
some technical problems.
He traced the plesident's
decision to keep the,bau other
gaming operations such as Keno
because of an alleged P4 billion
net loss, citing the initial probe
of the National Bureau of Inves-
tigation (NBi).
"They were wondering why
operations continued desDite the
loss," Mr. Santos saidbytelephone.
NBI Spokesman Ferdinand
Lavin didn't immediately reply to
a text message seekingcomment.
\t pAeE - /c/.st ,t
VERY TRAI{SPARENT free. "We rirean business," she resolution to investigate atleged]
Ms. Garma said theyhad reviewed said, adding state gaming opera- corruption at PCSO. "The. inno-
that
all lotto processes and fouud tions should be ftee from graft.
cent should not be made toluffer
prel€nt
tiere were safety nets to PCSO might move small-time because of tht! guilty," he told a
next
corruption. The agency in the lotto draws from provinces to
briefing yesterday.
twoweeks will studyhowtheycan regions to make it more transpar- . Also yesterday, senators
the
oqplain to the president tlat en!, she said. weighed in on the issue bysupport-
small-town lottery is 'Very trans- Justige Secretary Menardo ingtheliftingoftheban. -Arjayl.
parent and free from corruption." I. Guevana on Monday ordered Balinbb ChannaineA- fddalan
FCSO will let police and gov- NBI on Monday to prioritize it ond Beatiice M. Laforga and
ernment agents probe individu- probe of "massive corruptioD" in Vince Angelo c. Feneras
als at the agency who may have state gambling operations. I
been involved in corruption, Ms.
Garma said. HOUSE PR0BE
Once small-town lotto opera- Meanurhile, House Minor-
very
tions are bacl! PCSO will be ity leader and Manila Rep. Bien-
strict to ensure it is corruption- venido M, Abante Jr. has filed a