Is it the end of Filipinos’ adventures at fairytale-like fortune?
On Friday night, Duterte ordered authorities to enforce his order to shut down all Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) gambling operations such as the lotto, Peryahan ng Bayan, small town lottery (STL), and Keno. The President gave authorities 24 hours starting Saturday to complete the job. The PCSO said it would comply but intends to appeal the President’s order, citing its mandate and beneficiaries. Based on its charter, the PCSO provides for medical and calamity aid using proceeds from its gaming operations.
But with its operations messed up by alleged widespread corruption, it looks like the mandate defeats itself when the agency running it is riddled with irregularities.
And following the President Duterte’s battlecry “not in my watch”, even the most noble of intentions and the most charitable of institutions will have to give way to cleansing. The PCSO, in the President’s eye, was a disappointment. Hence, his order to stop.
Filipinos are typically risk takers and that is evident in the recent rise and fall of illegal Ponzi-like investment schemes. But that risk-taking culture is always connected to the love of gambling whether legal or otherwise. The lotto and STL are people’s favorite tickets for a one-shot deal to fortune. With its closure, compounded by the recent stoppage and collapse of investment schemes, the gambling risk-taking Pinoy will have to wait for another rags-to-riches scheme or game.
The mess that the PCSO is in requires not a permanent stoppage. But it needs a thorough probe and clean up and the President is just beginning to do the house cleaning in the agency.
There should be no cause to worry about the provisions for medical and calamity aid, or the fast fortunes offered to Pinoys in the luck-based business. It will be back in time.
When the cleaning is done.
