President Rodrigo Duterte greets Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde after the latter’s welcome remarks during the 118th Police Service Anniversary at Camp Crame in Quezon City on August 9, 2019. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said he had no problem with policemen running small-town lottery (STL) businesses as long as their operations complied with the law.
“There are allegations that police generals, retired, are into the STL, Lotto, and whatnot. I said, ‘You do not have any problem with me.’ If it’s a bidding, you participate, as long as it is not rigged in your favor and you secure it, complying with the laws, no corruption. I will not begrudge you,” Duterte said in his speech during the 118th Police Service Anniversary at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
“Ang hinihingi ko lang naman is walang gapangan and no oppression or pressure. And if there’s a bidding and you win it, by all means,” he added.
The president said that out of delicadeza, active police officers should have themselves reassigned to areas where they do not run STL operations.
“Ask yourself to be assigned somewhere where you are not operating or a participant or an incorporator of a corporation doing business in your area,” he said.
On Friday, there was none of the tough talk about massive corruption in gaming franchises, unlike on July 26 when Duterte suspended the operations of all gaming franchises granted by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
The suspension of Lotto operations was lifted last July 31, but gaming schemes such as STL, Keno and Peryahan ng Bayan remain suspended pending the results of an investigation into alleged corruption in the agency. (PressONE.ph)