PCSO chief gets APLA chairmanship

MANILA, Philippines — In a historic first, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Melquiades Robles has been elected vice chairman of the Asia-Pacific Lottery Association or APLA.

Robles is the first Filipino to hold an executive post in the APLA.

He was elected for a two-year term during the 2026 APLA general assembly in Seoul from Sept. 1 to 4.

In September 2024, Robles was elected as the first Filipino member of the APLA executive committee.

“Through this position, we hope to contribute more actively to regional cooperation, responsible gaming, innovation and the use of lottery revenues to uplift communities,” Robles said.