5 game firms not operating despite STL permits

MANILA, Philippines - At least five gaming firms who got approval to operate the small town lotteries (STL) in Visayas and Mindanao are not operating records and sources outside, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) said yesterday.

The gaming firms, The Full Back Gaming Corp. in Aklan, Around the World Gaming Corp. Iloilo City, Funtastik Leisure Corp. in Capiz, Golden System Arcade Gaming Corp. in Zamboanga City and the Pan Asia World Entertainment Inc. in Zamboanga Sibugay province were listed as having permit but not yet operational according to the PCSO.

The franchises of the gaming firms are among the 34 STL operators included in the ongoing review by the new PCSO managers to determine if they are not being used as front of the illegal numbers games, jueteng and masiao.

PCSO records also showed that at least two firms – The Golden Grains Corp. in San Agustin, Romblon ceased operation since February this year while franchise for Pacific Rim Corp. in Tabaco, Albay was suspended since April 2009.

The operations of the STL according to police reports have practically shielded the operations of the illegal numbers game jueteng which proliferate in Luzon and masiao in the Visayas and Mindanao areas.

According to PCSO records the new STL operations were launched in Romblon, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Southern Leyte, Leyte province, Agusan Norte, Agusan Sur, Aklan, Iloilo, Capiz, Zamboanga City and Zamboanga Sibugay provinces.

In 2006, when the STL was launched only 12 corporations were allowed to operate in Quezon, Angeles City, Bataan, Laguna, Bulacan Negros Oriental, Iloilo, Pampanga, Tarlac and Ilocos Norte.

In 2007, new permits were issued for STL operations in Albay, Olongapo City and Batangas. In 2008 operations were allowed in Zambalez, Nueva Ecija, Cavite and Isabela.

But instead of increasing the sales, the jueteng operations have resulted to a big drop of the STL sales from P8.4 billion in 2006 to P1.9 billion in 2009.

The source said jueteng lords were able to secure franchises for the STL operations, which practically shielded them from police raids because of the legality of their businesses.

Some of the gaming corporations were able to get permits to operate up to 2013.

The renewed operations of jueteng came as the new PCSO board headed by Chairman Margie Juico finalizes the review of the STL operations in various parts of Luzon.

The report is expected to be released by first week of January.