PCSO lauds Zambales cops for crackdown vs ‘peryahan games’

PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan said the CIDG-Zambales raided recently a draw court of the illegal peryahan on Gordon Avenue in Barangay Pagasa and arrested five employees of Globaltech Mobile Online Corp., the operator of the facility. (Photo: Alexander F Balutan/Facebook)

MANILA — The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) lauded the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation Detection Group (CIDG) in Zambales for finally moving against the “Peryahan ng Bayan” in Olongapo City.

PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan said the CIDG-Zambales raided recently a draw court of the illegal peryahan on Gordon Avenue in Barangay Pagasa and arrested five employees of Globaltech Mobile Online Corp., the operator of the facility.

He said PCSO relentlessly implements President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 13 against illegal numbers games and all forms of illegal gambling vis-a-vis the promotion and protection of the government-sponsored Small Town Lottery (STL), the only legal numbers game in the country.

“We cannot thank CIDG-Zambales enough for moving promptly on the complaint of our Zambales branch manager Pierre Ferrer. Their efficiency is a big help in increasing the charity funds of the government,” Balutan said in a statement.

Balutan noted that PCSO revenues have been adversely affected by the continued operation of illegal gambling which unfairly competes with PCSO’s legal gaming products, particularly the STL.

The PCSO declared the Peryahan of Globaltech Mobile Online Corp. illegal for multiple violations of its contract.

Globaltech was granted a one-year authorization to operate the Peryahan ng Bayan in 2014, but PCSO under Duterte’s administration terminated the deed of authorization (DOA) because of Globaltech’s continued and repeated refusal to remit the share of the government.

“Unfortunately, Peryahan ng Bayan continues to operate in different parts of the country although the PCSO had already terminated its deed of authorization last year,” PCSO Chairman Jose Jorge Corpuz said earlier.

In fact, Ferrer related that five Globaltech employees could not present any document to show they had government authority to operate the game.

“The employees were asked for documents authorizing their operations from PCSO or any government agency, but they failed to show any so the CIDG confiscated their paraphernalia, including two draw machines and a draw result board,” Ferrer said.

Ferrer said the five Globaltech employees were arrested in the act of drawing the winning numbers because one of the numbers was already written on the board when the lawmen arrived.

The PCSO ordered the filing of illegal gambling cases against the five employees, but they were able to post bail.

“The PCSO wants to thank and commend CIDG Zambales for their efficiency in enforcing the law,” Balutan said.

“I know we can stop illegal gambling in the country if only were fight together. Let’s continue protect STL operations because it raises funds that the government uses to help the people,” he said.