DILG Secretary Eduardo Año has tapped the Philippine National Police and local government units to monitor if the “Peryahan ng Bayan” continues to operate in their respective areas of responsibility in a bid to intensify the government’s campaign against the illegal numbers game.
Ano clarified that the illegal number game “Peryahan ng Bayan” (PnB) was still suspended.
The DILG chief made the clarification following reports that the PnB resumed operations in several areas of the country.
The PnB is similar to the small-town lottery with kubrador (bet collectors) going around the community for wagers ranging from P5 to P20. The winning numbers are drawn later akin to the traditional jueteng.
“The operation of Peryahan ng Bayan is still suspended so I instructed the PNP to continue intensify its campaign to suppress all forms of illegal gambling, including PnB,” he said.
On January 29, 2020, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea issued a memorandum to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), clarifying that the resumption of PnB operations was still suspended.
This prompted the PCSO to suspend the Peryahan games effective February 6, 2020 and to file an Urgent Manifestation with Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 161 stating that the PnB “does not bear the approval of the President and is therefore still subject to the suspension order of PCSO Games as pronounced by the President.”
In an order dated February 18, 2020, the Court took note of the Memorandum from the Office of the President and the Urgent Manifestation filed by PCSO and recalled the Writ of Execution that it issued on January 24, 2020 which allowed the operations of PnB.
“The DILG takes note of the recall order issued by the court. Unless the said order is overturned by the same court or court of higher jurisdiction, the recall order is effective and should be implemented. Hence, the operations of Peryahan ng Bayan are still suspended,” said Año.
Last March, DILG Undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya warned the public against fake news that the DILG Secretary allegedly has directed the PNP to allow the operation of PnB.
Malaya said Año would never issue such a directive to the PNP to condone illegal gambling activities such as Peryahan ng Bayan.