Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (Facebook)

Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez has echoed the resignation calls for Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Mel Robles, whom he said has failed to protect children from the dangers of e-lotto. 

Rodriguez said in a statement Tuesday, Jan. 23 that e-lotto had opened gambling to minors who have mobile phones, computers and similar devices. 

“It is accessible to anyone, even to young children whose welfare might be affected. It exposes them to the evils of gambling and erodes moral values,” he said. 

The House of Representatives Committee on Games and Qmusement chaired by Cavite Rep. Antonio Ferrer has endorsed a bill prohibiting online lotto. Rodriguez is the bill’s principal author via House Bill (HB) No. 9283. 

The measure seeks to ban “online placing of bets through mobile phones, laptops, tablets, personal computers, and other similar gadgets for all lotto games". 

Inspite of the approval of the Rodriguez bill by the House panel, Robles in defiance of the committee proceeded to implement the e-lotto test run. 

Rodriguez pointed out that in launching online lotto, the PCSO disregarded the recommendations of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC), including the requirement for the agency to secure the approval of the Office of the President. 

The veteran solon pointed out that the OGCC recommended limiting the e-lotto test run to six months instead of one year and that the 14-percent commission from e-lotto sales of the service provider must not be paid during the test run. 

“Robles likewise has not secured approval of the e-lotto From President Marcos. I believe that the President will not allow this online lotto because this will be very detrimental to our children and the Filipino youth!” Rodriguez said. 

“The PCSO ignored the three OGCC recommendations and they must face legal sanctions accordingly,” he added. 

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Another lawmaker from Mindanao, Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, earlier called for Robles to step down from office he described as "highly improbable and doubtful winnings" in the traditonal Philippine Lotto.  

Barbers also filed House Resolution (HR) No.1547, which sought to House inquiry on the alleged disadvantageous e-lotto contract. 

Barbers, in a separate statement Tuesday, said: “Clearly, the PCSO violated laws under its own charter, blatantly defied the OGCC’s legal opinion on the e-lotto scheme, and Mr. Robles virtually arrogating upon himself President Marcos Jr.’s powers to approve it prior to its implementation."

Rodriguez said the PCSO should focus on its principal mandate, which is charity work, using income from its traditional revenue-raising projects, instead of promoting various forms of gambling. 

“We have enough gambling in our country, legal and illegal. We should not add to it because gambling destroys our values, including the value of hard work, endangers the welfare of children and ruins the lives of many people,” he said.