Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan E. Malaya today warned the public against a tabloid opinion article claiming that DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to allow the operation of Peryahan ng Bayan, an illegal numbers game.
“Malaking kalokohan! Secretary Año has not and will never issue such a directive to the PNP to condone illegal gambling activities such as Peryahan ng Bayan. The DILG does not tolerate much more condone illegal gambling activities,” he said.
The DILG recently received a letter from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), the agency of the government that regulates competitive legal gaming products, concerning a commentary article in Pilipino Star Ngayon (PSN) Opinyon by DIPUGA-Non Alquitran entitled “Sec. Año sa PNP, Peryahan ng Bayan ‘wag galawin!” The article was also posted by the Philippine Star on its website on March 5, 2022.
The article says that Año directed the PNP to exempt ‘Peryahan ng Bayan’ from its anti-illegal gambling operations. It states that: “Sa kautusan n’yang hulihin ang mga managers, operators, agents at empleyado ng illegal numbers games, nilinaw ni Sec. Año na hindi kasali ang mga gaming products na may basbas ng PCSO o dili kaya’y ‘yaong may ‘final and executory court decisions/orders injunction and/or Status Quo Ante order, pursuant to Republic Act No. 9287, DILG Memorandum Circular 2010-100 and other relevant laws.’”
In the letter of PCSO Vice-Chairperson and General Manager Royina Marzan Garma to the DILG, she said that “the group is showing the news report to police and local government officials claiming of your [DILG Secretary Año] approval of their operation.”
Malaya said that the opinion piece, especially its title, is not only malicious and misleading but completely false with no basis and authentic source.
“It is totally fake news. Kuwentong kutsero. Malaking kalokohan ang sinasabi ng artikulo na ito. This should have never been allowed by the publishers and editors of Pilipino Star Ngayon. Even commentaries and opinion articles can’t be used to spread fake news or information,” he said.
He called on all media entities and practitioners to practice credible reporting and responsibly practice freedom of speech. “Hindi po dahil opinion article e puwede ng magpalaganap ng fake news. It cannot be a cloak against the responsible exercise of freedom of the press,” he emphasized.
The DILG Spox warned operators of Peryahan ng Bayan to cease operation or face possible arrests and sanctions following reports that people involved in the illegal gaming product used the said Pilipino Star Ngayon commentary to deceive patrons and the public that they are allowed to operate.
“Kaya po nakakadismaya itong fake news mula sa opinion article ng Pilipino Star Ngayon ay ginagamit ito sa pang-uuto ng mga kawawa nating kababayan. ‘Wag po nating gawing hanapbuhay ang panloloko ng kapwa. Sa publiko, mga local government units (LGUs) at iba pang sektor na niloloko ng mga ito, huwag kayong papalansi sa mga salita ng mga manlolokong ito,” he added.
Original Article at: https://dilg.gov.ph/news/DILG-Spox-on-allowing-operation-of-Peryahan-ng-Bayan-Malaking-kalokohan-kuwentong-kutsero/NC-2022-1030