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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Rodriguez thumbs down online lotto proposal; find out why

Rodriguez thumbs down online lotto proposal; find out why

Published Aug 30, 2022 03:46 pm

It’s a 'no' for Cagayan de Oro 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez when it comes to the proposal of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to start offering online lotto.

(LOTTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

The veteran lawmaker from Mindanao said that making gambling accessible online would make it within reach of the youth.

“I am totally against this plan and I am registering my strong objection to it,” he said during a briefing given by former Quirino congressman and now PCSO Chairman Junie Cua to lawmakers on Tuesday, Aug. 30.

Rodriguez stressed that gambling would destroy the youth’s morals and corrupt their minds.

“Let us not make gambling easily available to our youth by making it online. Even children who have mobile phones will be able to access it. Let us stay as is - let us keep the status quo.”

He reminded his colleagues that government officials like them should be “the custodians of the morality of our youth".

Rodriguez appealed to Cua and the other congressmen “not to do to our youth what e-sabong or online sabong has done to our people".

READ: PCSO eyes online lotto

The online "sabong", or the placing of bets online for cockfighting, has reportedly led to the disappearance of some 26 individuals, whose whereabouts are still unknown today.

“Gambling is always illegal under the Revised Penal Code, the only exemptions being those allowed by Congress and by law like a presidential decree,” the lawmaker said.

Rodriguez raised another objection on earmarking or diverting PCSO income to other purposes.

“Congress has been giving away PCSO funds to activities unrelated to the agency’s mandate, which is to finance charity projects and health services. Let us review all of these laws and repeal those that are no longer necessary,” he said.

Cua supported Rodriguez’s suggestion, saying he also wants a rationalization of all earmarking laws passed by Congress because PCSO had been giving funds to so many agencies and organizations, which, in turn, erodes its income intended for charity and health services.

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