The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) recently shut down Small Town Lottery (STL) in Iloilo province, after their operator, Eagle-Crest Gaming and Holding Corporation, failed to pay its presumptive monthly retail receipts (PMRR).

“Ang PMRR ay obligasyon nila sa gobyerno (The government requires they pay the PMRR),” said PCSO National Inter-Branch Security Monitoring chief Manuel Fraginal. “Millions ang usapan dito (We’re talking about millions).”

The PCSO official, however, would not divulge the exact amount owed.

STL Iloilo began operations in February, with a location in Santa Barbara.

Earlier this week, two ‘Peryahan ng bayan’ outlets in Bacolod City and Escalante City were raided by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Bacolod City NBI chief, Atty. Renoir Baldovino, said a warrant was issued on allegations of illegal gambling by Executive Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court-Branch 89.

Baldovino pointed out the establishments, which were operated by Globaltech, were not authorized to operate as the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) removed their deed of authority after failing to pay their PMRR, which totaled around P100 million./WDJ