Bettors shocked, outraged
Credit to Author: AL JACINTO, TMT| Date: Sat, 27 Jul 2019 16:10:58 +0000
From Manila to Mindanao, shock and outrage greeted President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to stop lotto and other games of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
Bettors blasted the President for taking away their hope for a cash windfall or of becoming millionaires.
“Buang talaga! Pati ba naman lotto eh ipinatigil, paano na kami? Lotto lang ang pag-asa namin makaahon sa kahirapan. Si Duterte maraming pera, mayaman ‘yan at walang problema (He’s nuts! He stopped the lottery, what will happen to us? Lotto is our only ticket out of poverty. Duterte is rich, he has no problems),” Arnold, an upholsterer in Zamboanga City, said.
Another lottery player, Marie Angeles, said Duterte should not have stopped the PCSO games because proceeds go to charity.
“Dapat hindi ipinatigil ni Duterte dahil sa charity naman napupunta ang mga kinikita ng PCSO, at nakakatulong pa ito sa mga mahihirap, ‘yun mga gastusin sa gamot, ‘yan mga ambulansya galing ang pondo sa PCSO games (He should not have stopped the games because proceeds go to charity, the PCSO helps the poor by providing them medicines. Those ambulances also come from PCSO funds),” Angeles said.
“Ang dapat na ginawa ni Duterte ay mag-imbestiga at kasuhan ang mga involved sa corruption sa PCSO kung totoo man. Marami nang tinanggal si Duterte na mga tao niya at opisyal sa ibat-ibang ahensya, pero ni isa ay walang nakulong, ngunit marami ang nailipat lang sa ibang departamento (Duterte should have ordered an investigation instead and charges should be filed against corrupt officials. The President had removed a lot of officials, but not one was jailed, they only got transferred to a different agency),” she added.
Norma Garcia, who frequently plays Keno in a PCSO outlet in Quezon City, was also furious.
“Bakit sinara kaagad? Hindi makatarungan ang ginawa n’ya. Lahat ng taya kagabi walang resulta. Dapat buksan uli ang lotto (Why did he close lotto outlets immediately? His decision is unjust. All bets placed last night had no result. He should reopen lotto),” she said.
A bettor in Balanga, Bataan was also crestfallen when she saw a lotto outlet being shuttered.
“Maraming taong umaasa sa lotto. Nakakagulat kung bakit nakasarado. Nabigla kami (Many people depend on lotto. We were really surprised),” she told The Manila Times.
Netizens also expressed their shock and dismay.
“Sinuspindi ang legal na lotto at PCSO na may congressional franchise, at pinapaboran ang jueteng at mga casino, na hawak ng mga chekwa. Intay lang tayo at baka pati
PCSO malipat na sa kamay ng mga chekwa. Naisip ba ng traydor na ‘yan kung gaano kahalaga ang PCSO sa mga maralitang umaasa sa tulong ng PCSO sa gamot, ospitalisasyon…” a university professor posted on Facebook.
“Sa closure ng lotto, sweepstakes na ito, ay lalong mamayagpag ang talagang illegal gambling na ito, like jueteng etc., at higit sa lahat ang mga Chinese casinos at Chinese online gaming wala na silang kumpetensya! Hindi ba pwede maglinis na hindi kailangang isara?” another Facebook user said.
PCSO General Manager Royina Garma had said the agency would appeal the President’s decision and advised bettors to hold on to their tickets.
Last month, Duterte said he is not a fan of illegal gambling and admitted that jueteng is unlawful, but he would allow its operations because the government could not provide alternative livelihood to those behind it.
“It is not legal. It cannot be allowed. If I stop it, I must be prepared to give another livelihood scheme to the people because if you can’t find an alternative, drugs will replace the operations. That would be more deadly,” he said.
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