PHILIPPINE Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Alexander Balutan on Wednesday expressed disappointment over the seriousness of Philippine National Police chief General Ronald dela Rosa to stamp out illegal gambling like jueteng that continues to mess up the monthly revenue collection of the state-sanctioned Small Town Lottery.
“I am disappointed and dismayed by their performance,” said the retired Marine Corps major general.
He said illegal numbers games were still rampant in some areas competing with STL games being operated by PCSO’s Authorized Agent Corporations.
In a press statement, Balutan reminded the PNP to fulfill its responsibility to eradicate all forms of illegal numbers game and protect the operation of STL based on a Memorandum of Agreement with PCSO.
Under the MOA, the PNP agreed to step up the fight against illegal gambling. In return, the PCSO will give the PNP a share of 2.5 percent of its earnings.
To date, the PNP has received P154 million from the PCSO.
“I had hoped that the PNP would stand true to their oath to implement President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 13,” he said in the statement.
But he said that based on PCSO’s monitoring and reports from AACs, some local police officials allegedly continue to receive payolas from gambling lords who operate the illegal numbers game.
“What happens is that the small-time bet collectors are the ones getting arrested and not the big ones like the illegal gambling financiers, reason jueteng, masiao and other illegal numbers games continue,” Balutan said in Filipino.
Balutan also warned erring police officials to stop using gambling lords to sabotage STL operations instead of convincing these financiers to go legal.
“We sincerely tried to involve them in what we believe will serve the people. Instead, they have chosen to serve crime lords,” he said.
Duterte had chosen Balutan to lead PCSO instead of the Bureau of Corrections as he was earlier promised with hope that the former general who has the moniker “Mandirigma” in the military could help him eradicate illegal gambling in the country.
Balutan said he was very happy with his mission to help needy Filipinos and he welcomed the mission because it was a dramatic change from his 33-year career in the military.
“But it doesn’t mean that I have forgotten how to fight just because I retired. I feel insulted by the temerity of these people. My oath to my countrymen stands until the day I die,” the general said, citing Marawi City as an example.
He said he had been to Marawi several times in his career and he could not recall any negativity because of the kindness of the Maranao people.
“Now, this kind of people is suffering, that beautiful city is in ruins because of the followers of Satan. I’m trying to help them now but I am prevented from giving what I want to give. I could do so much more if not for the minions of satanic gambling lords,” Balutan said.
“To the gambling lords, understand this, you are my mission now and I intend to accomplish it,” Balutan stressed.