Manila, Philippines – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Friday ordered the suspension of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) operations due to alleged massive corruption in the agency. The suspension covers all of PCSO’s lotto and gaming schemes such as STL (Small Town Lottery), Peryahan ng Bayan and Keno.
Below is the full transcript of the president’s special message regarding the suspension.
Sa mga kababayan ko, magandang gabi po sa inyong lahat.
I have today ordered the closure, the stoppage of all gaming schemes of whatever nature, however done, that got their franchises to do so from the PCSO.
The ground is massive corruption involving all — pati the courts who issued the — repeatedly issued injunctions to paralyze government and to allow corruption to thrive. Pending investigation, lahat ho ng laro ng Lotto, STL, Peryahan ng Bayan or whatever nature.
There’s one that — ‘yung gambling machine. [What’s the name?] Keno. I said all gaming activities, ‘yung gambling that got their franchise from government through PCSO are as of today suspended or terminated because of massive corruption.
Wala ako magawa. I have to do it. I will not honor transactions that are clearly on the side of, you know, scheming people, the Republic of the Philippines, of the money due it. Puro dayaan lahat at ‘yung mga kontrata ay parang — crafted in favor of corruption and to favor other corporations and people. I will not allow it.
As of today, I will not honor any — any order from any court stopping us or enjoining us to stop our desire to go into a massive investigation for the massive corruption that is existing in the PCSO.
Hinto lahat. That’s my order. Irrespective of the — ‘yung mga sinabi ko na na court order enjoining everybody to stop or not to do or what not to do, especially government.
Hindi ako papayag. And I said, I will not honor anything there. Everybody, everybody has to stop. I am ordering General Albayalde and the military to stop all these government — government-granted games which involves corruption. Lahat. Massive corruption.
So I repeat I’m ordering the military and the police to stop all gaming. Lotto, STL, Peryahan ng Bayan pati those machines that can be found everywhere which is actually gambling. If I — if I were… If I were to give my sentiment about gambling, mas gusto ko mawala ito lahat.
Kung meron man, I will maybe confer with the leaders of Congress muna. I am… The order is grounded on the preservation of the resources of the nation.
Additionally, the information is given to everybody that since — as of this moment, beginning now, the franchises, and licenses of whatever kind or nature granted by the PCSO, I said, to all gambling schemes, Lotto, Peryahan ng Bayan, STL, and those machines there that are found everywhere.
I will give them 24 hours to remove them from the public places. Tomorrow — beginning tomorrow, at sunrise everything, all transactions and gaming, waging — wager of bets becomes illegal. And I am, I said, ordering the PNP — the PNP Chief Albayalde to arrest anybody. And goes also for the military, si Madrigal, to arrest people engaged in gambling activities in connection with the franchises, licenses, concessions granted by the PCS
So it becomes illegal because as of today, all — all of those permits and concessions and whatever are terminated.
Talagang hiningi ninyo. Sinabi ko na nga walang corruption. Hinihingi talaga ninyo, ibigay ko sa inyo.
I have offered, we have offered — government have offered something to tie the people, allowing gambling and maybe it can help in the economic activity because money goes around.
But if you f*** government, that’s something else. Talagang kayo ang naghingi. Ibibigay ko sa inyo.
Thank you for listening.
— END —
-PCOO
Stay tuned for more updates on PCSO operations.