(NI NOEL ABUEL)

HINAMON ni Senador Risa Hontiveros si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na kung seryoso itong papanagutin ang sinumang opisyal ng Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) na sangkot sa kurapsyon ay dapat na sampahan ng kaso.

Giit ni Hontiveros, kailangang habulin at kasuhan ang mga tauhan  ng PCSO na nakikipagsabwatan sa mga jueteng operators.

“If President Rodrigo Duterte wants to purge corruption out of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), then he should go after his corrupt officials who connive with jueteng operators in using PCSO small town lottery (STL) franchises as front for illegal gambling operations?” sabi ni Hontiveros.

Ipinagtataka naman nito kung ano ang nagtulak sa Pangulo na isara ang operasyon ng multibillion-peso charity operations kabilang ang lotto outlets.

“Why shut down the entire multi-billion peso charity operations, including small lotto outlets which are highly regulated by the government?” tanong pa ni Hontiveros.

“Why is President Duterte punishing ordinary people for the corruption of his officials? Thousands of our fellow Filipinos rely on the PCSO for financial assistance to cover costly medical expenses; at times these are matters of life and death for many. Many Filipinos also base their employment and livelihood on small lotto operations. Bakit sila dinadamay ng Pangulo sa katiwalian at kasakiman ng mga opisyales niya?” pag-uusisa pa nito.