All posts by Pol Pinoy

Government, Law Enforcement, Social Media

Senator Hontiveros Files Bill To Legalize 5-6

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MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – President Rodrigo Duterte’s order suspending the gaming schemes of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) due to alleged corruption has sent shockwaves across the nation.

Foremost in the minds of politicians is the potential loss of revenue to help fund the government’s social programs. A percentage of PCSO collections is supposed to be remitted to the government but a recent audit by the Commission on Audit shows that PCSO has failed to remit some P8 billion as of 2016.

To lessen the impact of such potential loss of revenue for government social programs, Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed a bill to legalize the 5-6 scheme.

”5-6” is a loan practice popular among Filipinos whereby an individual provides short-term loans to others at 20% interest — no paperwork, no collateral needed; just word of honor.

Under Hontiveros’ proposal, 5-6 lenders will now be registered with the Bureau of Internal Revenue as a legal loan business. Ten percent of the earnings of the individual lenders will be remitted to the government to be used as a social program fund.

What a brillint idea, Madam Senator!

 

Government, Law Enforcement

Malacañang: Duterte Meant To Shut Down PCOO, Not PCSO

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MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – The biggest news this weekend was President Rodrigo Duterte’s  shutting down of gambling schemes by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, or PCSO, for alleged corruption.  The news sent shockwaves to  Filipinos who have long been hooked on Lotto, Small Town Lottery (STL), Peryahan ng Bayan and other games.

But it was all a big mistake.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo today told the Malacañang Press Corpse (not a typo), that what Duterte meant to shut down was PCOO, not PCSO.

Panelo said that his video message was intended to announce the abolition of PCOO, the Presidential Communications Operations Office, which has not only been underperforming but has been wasting huge amounts of taxpayer funds.

Panelo said the whole mix-up was due to Duterte misreading what was fed on the teleprompter.

Malacañang has apologized to the Filipino gambling comminity and  assured the public that the proper agency — PCOO, not PCSO — will be shut down immediately.

(Leslie B. contributed to this report.)

Entertainment, Government, Law Enforcement

One Million Senior Citizen March To Preserve BINGO

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MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the closure of all gaming schemes operated, licensed, and franchised by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) due to “massive corruption.”

The order covers such games as lotto, Small Town Lottery (STL), Peryahan ng Bayan and others.

Duterte’s order sent chills to the country’s millions of senior citizens, many of whom play BINGO games regularly as part of their amusement and their loneliness therapy.

BINGO games in malls and other public venues are supervised and managed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), not by PCSO. Nevertheless, senior citizens are afraid Duterte will ban BINGO games next.

So on Sunday, senior citizens will hold a nationwide One Million March for BINGO to urge the President to leave their BINGO games alone.

No comment so far from Malacañng.