Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Royina Garma has vowed to suspend operations of Small Town Lotteries (STL)  if requested by local government units as part of measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in their locality.

In a joint congressional hearing on reported illegal STL operations in various parts of the country, Garma showed softening in her defense of STL operations, particularly that of the Sahara Games that has been the object of numerous complaints from political leaders in Isabela.

Apparently vowing to pressure from lawmakers, Garma  said complaints against Sahara Games will be investigated, saying that PCSO’s recommendations will be made known within ten days, instead of 30 days as she previously declared.

Prior to congressional hearing on Monday, March 1 that was conducted by the House Committees on Games and Amusement and on Good Government, Garma rejected demands from lawmakers to shut down Sahara Games’ operations in Isabela, saying that Malacanang, not her, has the authority to make such decision.

During the latest hearing, the former police general agreed to act on the complaints of local government units (LGUs) headed by Isabela Gov. Rodito Albano.

She also assured LGUs that STL operations will be stopped if they believe that this might trigger the spread of COVID-19 infection in their respective localities.

Garma acknowledged LGU concerns that bet collectors could be “super spreaders.”

Isabela Rep. Inno Dy presented to Garma a file containing documentary evidences that support the LGUs claim that Sahara has been violating its terms of agreement with the PCSO as its authorized agent corporation granted the authority to operate STL in the province.

Dy said violations included allowing minors to place bets to the STL, a legalized form of “jueteng”.

Sahara Games is considered an outsider in Isabela, which used to be a haven for illegal numbers games operated by certain local executives in the province.

During the hearing, retired  Supreme Court associate justice and  current Marinduque Rep. Presbitero Velasco lent his legal expertise on the controversy surrounding STL operations in the country.

Citing SC rulings, Velasco warned the PCSO that it will be violating its own charter if it allowed STL operators to conduct actual draws.  He slammed the 2020 STL  Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations as running contrary to what the Charter provided.

Under the RIRR, AAC’s are granted the authhority to provide its own manpower and the right to conduct actual STL draws.

“There is a clear violation of the PCSO charter which identifies the power given to PCSO to hold and conduct lotteries including the STL,” he said.

Velasco, father of Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, explained that PCSO, having been given by Congress delegated power to operate lotteries, cannot further  pass on such authority to another entity.