Nueva Vizcaya board endorses STL

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — The provincial board proceeded to endorse the controversial small-town lottery (STL) Wednesday amid allegations that its members had received or were offered P30,000 each to endorse the government-backed numbers game.

Voting 7-2, with one abstention, the 13-member provincial board gave the go-signal for the STL operation of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in the province, where the Catholic Church is strongly opposed to any form of gambling, legal or otherwise.

The provincial board, however, clarified that they merely endorsed the operation of STL without favoring any particular franchisee or operator, which has to bid for the local operation.

At least two individuals — a certain Cezar Palma and Alex Mauricio — have reportedly signified their interest in operating STL here.

Those who opposed STL were board members Hipolito Mamuric and Maybelle Dumlao, while board member Edue Balgos, who earlier had expressed opposition to STL, opted to abstain from voting.

Absent in the voting were board members Patricio Dumlao Jr. and Reina Nita Tidang.

The board’s decision came in the wake of reports that its members allegedly received or were offered P30,000 each to endorse STL which, a few months ago, they had strongly opposed in a resolution.

However, Balgos said there was no truth to the allegations, adding though that he could only speak for himself and those in his employ.

"I was not offered such an amount. I have no knowledge about it," he said.

For her part, board member Maybelle Dumlao admitted having heard about the alleged offer, saying though that "whether true or not, it does not affect my stand on the issue."

"I heard about it and if, indeed, that is true, I will remain and will be consistent with my stand. No to STL," she said.

Vice Gov. Jose Gambito, the board’s presiding officer, said it was possible that there was such an offer, but doubted if any of his colleagues accepted or entertained it.

Earlier, the 15-member provincial mayors’ league and the provincial peace and order council both passed resolutions endorsing STL operation in the province despite the opposition of local Church leaders who consider it as no different from jueteng.

Gov. Luisa Lloren-Cuaresma has repeatedly expressed her preference for the government-sanctioned lottery, which the PCSO reportedly conceived to combat the illegal numbers game.

Cuaresma echoed the mayors’ stand that STL, if properly operated, would generate additional income to finance development projects in the municipalities.