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By LITO RULONA
Correspondent /

Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin Uy has ordered the city council as committee as a whole to review and assess operations of Small Town Lottery outlets operating in the city, including those that are allegedly accredited by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

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Uy issued this statement after receiving reports that STL outlets in the city have been proliferating. Commonly known as “swertres,” the city government considers it as a social problem that affects the poor.

“There is no clearance from the city government that they operate (in). The city council will determine if this operation is legally allowed,” he said.

He said if this STL outlet operates without clearance from the city government then it is considered as illegally.

Councilor Teodulfo Lao, Jr. claimed that the operation of PCSO-STL in the city has no permit from the city government.

“If operators of Small Town Lottery have the gall to defraud the government, how much more of the ordinary people who are relying their luck so much,” he said.

According to Lao, the prize offered by these STL outlets are bigger than what the PCSO accredited outlets are giving.

“Based on my personal investigation, you can place a bet on your chosen number at STL outlet at one peso and once your number hits the PCSO draw result, it will have a corresponding prize of P650,” he reported.

This could be precisely enticing to the bettors or patrons because of the bigger prize they had offered compared to the PCSO outlet wherein you can have a minimum bet of P10 which wins P4,500, Lao cited.

“If we could remember that PCSO outlet operators came and sought assistance from the city council regarding the proliferation of this illegal outlets,” he said.

Last year, PCSO association outlet president Jose Astrid Bana informed the city council  about how the operation of illegal swertres has been affecting authorized lotto outlets and the city’s share from the PCSO.

Lao said legitimate lotto outlets may close down for loss of profits because of the alleged illegal STL outlets.

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