October 24, 2023
STRESSING that he fully supports the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s (PCSO) campaign against illegal online lotto operators, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos has vowed to go after cyber criminals who were raking in billions of pesos in earnings while depriving the poor of much-needed assistance because of their illegal activities.
“We are one with the PCSO in its desire to provide help especially medical assistance to as many poor people as possible. But they (PCSO) can’t fulfill their mandate if there are evil people who were stealing the agency’s revenue using their technological know-how,” he explained.
Secretary Abalos issued the statement a day after PCSO General Manager Mel Robles filed charges against individuals behind the four firms engaged in the unauthorized online lottery operations in the country.
“I will instruct the Philippine National Police especially our Anti- Cybercrime Group to vigorously pursue and assist the PCSO in identifying groups or individuals who might be engaged in similar illegal online lottery games,” he said.
“Kailangang pagbayaran ng mga kriminal na ito ang kailang masasamang gawain, kailangang pagsisihan nila ang kanilang ginawa,” Abalos declared.
Robles earlier revealed that the PCSO is losing billions of pesos in revenues because of the illegal operations perpetrated by the suspects.
“You can just imagine the damage these suspects are doing to the causes and advocacies of PCSO which is mandated to provide all forms of assistance to the people especially the poor,” Abalos pointed out.
“Pero dahil ninanakaw nga ng mga illegal online lottery operators na ito ang kita ng ahensya na aabot sa bilyon-bilyong piso ay maraming mga kababayan natin na humihingi ng tulong sa PCSO ang naaapektuhan,” he added.
The charges were filed before the Mandaluyong Prosecutors Office against four companies, Eplayment Corporation, Paymero Technologies Limited, GlobalComRCI International, and Blockchain Smart-Tech Co. I.T. Consultancy.
The complaint-affidavit states that the owners, directors, and/or officers of Paymero, Eplayment, GlobalComRCI, and Blockchain, as owners, operators, and/or administrators of Pakilotto and Sukilotto, have committed Usurpation of Authority under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code, a violation of R.A. No. 1169, as amended, and a violation of Presidential Decree (P.D.) No. 1602, as amended by Republic Act No. 9287, in connection with Executive Order No. 13, Series of 2017.
The companies reportedly misused the PCSO’s name, logo, and various lottery games, soliciting and accepting bets from the public through their unauthorized mobile applications and websites.
Robles said the evidence obtained during the investigation effectively proves their illegal activities, leaving no room for doubt or ambiguity
Original Article at: https://dilg.gov.ph/news/Abalos-vows-to-run-after-illegal-online-lottery-operators/NC-2023-1207