NBI to include retired generals in STL probe
JUSTICE Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said that the National Bureau of Investigation will be investigating retired military and police generals who own small town lottery (STL) franchises after allegations were made that they had not been remitting the government’s share of the earnings.
“Definitely mako-cover rin sila kasi malawakan nga ’yung investigation na gagawin ang NBI (They definitely will be covered too because the NBI investigation will be broad),” said Mr. Guevarra in a press briefing on Friday, Aug. 2.
On Thursday, Senator Panfilo M. Lacson said that retired generals who had STL franchises from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) have not been remitting the government’s share of their earnings.
The Justice chief said that one of the specific areas of the investigation will be the non-remittance of revenues of the gaming operations.
“I think one specific area ng investigation will be ’yung non-remittance or ’yung kakulangan sa nireremit to the government na mga revenues from gaming operations kasi dun nadadaya ’yung government (I think one specific area of the investigation will be the non-remittance or the inadequate remittance to the government of the revenues from gaming operations because the government is being cheated),” said Mr. Guevarra.
However, Mr. Guevarra said that the investigation into these retired generals does not necessarily mean they are involved in the alleged corruption at PCSO.
“Hindi naman natin sinasabing may ginagawang mali or parang napaboran ’yung mga generals (We do not mean that those generals did something wrong or were favored),” he said. “For all we know baka nasa ayos rin naman ang kanilang mga permits, kanilang mga franchises (For all we know, all their permits, their franchises are proper).”
On July 26, President Rodrigo R. Duterte ordered the closure of all gaming operations under the PCSO in a videotaped message, alleging widespread corruption. However, the President lifted the suspension on lotto operations after four days.
Meanwhile, all the other gaming operations with franchises, licenses, and permits given by the PCSO, such as STL, Keno, and Peryahan ng Bayan remain suspended pending investigation. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras
