Councilors want to know why all Oro lotto outlets are illegal

By LITO RULONA
and SHIELA MAE BUTLIG
Correspondents

THE city council’s committee on ways and means would summon city treasurer Glenn Bañez so he could shed light on his pronouncement that all lotto outlets in the city, including those authorized by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), are illegally operating in the city.

Councilor George Goking, the committee chairman, said councilors wanted to know from Bañez why lotto outlets operating in the city have not been securing business permits from city hall.

Bañez earlier said the PCSO-lotto agents are supposed to secure business permits from local governments but they have argued that they are exempted.

Goking said an investigation would be started on the recommendation of various city council committees.

“This is a concerted effort to get what is right,” Goking said.

Also to be summoned are PCSO executives, organized lotto agents, and police officials.

Councilor Romeo Calizo said, “If they are illegal, why is it that these lotto operations were tolerated for so many years. All of a sudden it was declared ‘illegal’ by a big official. Why? This will affect our crusade against illegal gambling.”

Astrid Jose Bana, president of the Misamis Oriental-Cagayan de Oro Lotto Agents Association, Inc., called on Bañez to seek clarification from the PCSO.

“If the treasurer is saying that we are required to get license siya sa tibuok Pilipinas ang gaingon. I suggest that he go to PCSO to seek clarification,” Bana said.

Eddie Go, vice president of the Misamis Oriental Lotto Agents’ Association, questioned Bañez’s pronouncement. “Bakit ba atat na atat si Bañez?”

Go said Bañez should instead collect business taxes from an alleged illegal gambling lord at city hall.

“Why won’t Bañez tax him (alleged illegal gambling lord)?” Go asked rhetorically.

Go said the PCSO-authorized lotto agents have been generating revenues for the government while illegal gambling lords who have not been contributing anything to the government have remained “untouchable.”

He said illegal gambling operations were only possible because of financiers, and their protectors in government.

Divina Salvacion, PCSO acting manager here, said she has referred Bañez’s statements to their legal department in Metro Manila.

“I will not comment more on the issue because we already referred Bañez statement to our legal department. In print man gud siya migawas and lain kaayo tan-awon,” Salvacion said.

She said PCSO legal office would likely reply to what Bañez stated.

But Salvacion maintained that the PCSO-authorized lotto agents “are not required to get business permits from any local government units.” Bañez has argued against such assertion.

“I already informed them that lotto outlet operators are mandated to secure business permits,” said Bañez, citing a Supreme Court ruling. He said while the PCSO’s lotto operation is exempted, such benefit “is not transferrable” to those doing business with PCSO.

Salvacion said the PCSO would provide the city council a legal basis for her assertion that PCSO-authorized lotto agents are exempted.