(PNA photo by Joey Razon)
MANILA – The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) on Friday turned over checks amounting to over PHP11 million to the Philippine National Police (PNP) as its share of small town lottery (STL) revenues.
PCSO chairperson Junie Cua and general manager Melquiades Robles personally handed the checks to PNP chief, Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
“What is more significant here is the partnership that we have forged through the years. PCSO and the PNP are together. If we are involved in the charity it is because we had the funds that we have raised in cooperation with the PNP,” Robles said.
He said the PCSO would continue to provide funds for healthcare, especially with the increasing number of patients seeking medical attention.
“Besides we would like to introduce ourselves because Chairperson Cua and I are new officials. This is our way of saying we are around, very much around and we are still doing our mandate of providing charity to our people, including the PNP,” he added.
Azurin, meanwhile, said the amount will augment funds for its health services provided to police personnel and their dependents.
“Yun pong donation ng ating PCSO ibibigay po yan sa Health Service for them to either procure mga various hospital equipment to upgrade yung mga existing equipment natin sa PNP Health Service. It will also be allocated sa mga different medicines na pangangailangan ng ating kapulisan specifically yung mga dependents nila so that they will continue to be healthy and they will continue to perform yung trabaho nila at assured tayo na medyo malakas sila para gampanan ang kanilang mga respective na mga trabaho at kung ano yung mga naiatang sa kanila na mga responsibilidad (The donation from PCSO will be given to the Health Service for them to either procure various hospital equipment, to upgrade our existing equipment in the PNP Health Service. It will also be allocated to the different medicines that our police force needs, specifically their dependents so that they will continue to be healthy and they will continue to perform their work and we are assured that they are strong to fulfill their respective jobs and what are their assigned responsibilities),” said Azurin.
Robles urged the public to keep on patronizing PCSO games to generate more funds for health programs, medical assistance and services, and charities.
The PCSO is mandated to set aside 30 percent of its revenue for charity, 55 percent for prizes, and 15 percent for its operation. All balances of any funds in the PCSO will form part of the charity fund.
Through its mandatory contributions, the agency said it does not only help individuals in need of medical assistance but also provides funds to government institutions.
Intensify anti-illegal gambling crackdown
Meanwhile, Azurin ordered police officers to intensify the campaign against illegal gambling activities in their respective areas.
“On our campaign against illegal gambling, we will definitely intensify. As our PCSO general manager said, they are the ones who identify what is legal and what is not. We draw our strength from them,” Azurin told reporters.
Azurin said the commanders on the ground had been continuously monitoring illegal numbers games that are happening in their areas and they should know what to do.
Only the PCSO is the only government body authorized to conduct lottery draws or any number games in the country. (PNA)
