Council to summon PCSO exec, Olaguera over lottery state in Oro

By LITO RULONA
and NITZ ARANCON
Correspondents

THE city council will summon Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) manager Raul Regondola and city police director Senior Supt. Faro Antonio Olaguera so they could shed light on the proliferation of illegal lotto outlets in the city.

This came after Councilor Zaldy Ocon delivered a special report on Monday regarding the operation of illegal lotto outlets in public places like markets, terminals and areas near police stations.

Ocon said he was disturbed over reports that the income of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in Region 10 has been significantly reduced. He said this would impact on PCSO’s financial and medical assistance to the needy.

“One of the most accessible government agencies is the PCSO, and its purpose is to help indigent families,” he said.  He said revenues lost by PCSO in the region has already reached some P80 million per month, prompting it to cut medical and financial assistance to the indigents by 50 percent this month.

“Why can’t we stop this from happening? We literally see it in front of us,” he said.

Councilor Ramon Tabor, for his part, said he has long been calling the attention of the police and asking it to act on the problem. Tabor is the chair of the city council’s police committee.

“Kung atong himoun ang angayan nga himoun, naa kita’y mahimo. We will confront our city police director and ask him about what has been done,” Tabor said.

Meanwhile, Councilor Roger Abaday has called on the Liga ng mga Barangay in the city to spearhead a fresh campaign against the illegal lotto outlets. The group is led by Councilor Yam Lam Lim.

Abaday said the barangay officials were in a better position to leade the campaign.