THE task force on small-time lottery (STL) created by President Duterte has recommended the imposition of a multimillion-peso bond on small-time lottery operators to answer for their shortfall in remittances.
In an interview, Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II, one of the members of the task force, said the cash bond may reach up to P300 million monthly, depending on the location of operation.
The bond will also cover the filing fee amounting to P50,000 and the authorization fee amounting to P15 million being imposed by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
The task force, composed of Aguirre, Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea and Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, said the PCSO is expected to implement the bond starting February 1.
“Ang ginawa namin diyan nilagyan namin ng minimum, ang tinatawag na PMRR [presumptive monthly retail receipts], iyon ang quota na dapat i-remit ng isang operator sa PCSO every month,” Aguirre said.
He cited as example the province of Laguna, where around P10 million to P30 million are being collected daily from lottery operations.
“Sa P10 million na lang…ibig sabihin noon, you are going to remit the amount of P300 million to the PCSO, kasi 30 days [a month ang operation]…. Ganyan din, P300 million ang ibabayad mo as bond. Ibig sabihin, iyan ay cash bond ha, iyan ang ibibigay mo sa PCSO…. Ibig sabihin kapag ikaw ay nag-remit lamang ng P250 million, nag-pull ka ng P50 million, ibabawas ng PCSO sa bond mo ang P50 million,” Aguirre explained.
Aguirre said the amount of cash bond would vary depending on the area of operations.
He assured the imposition of a cash bond would not led to the demise of STL operations in the country.
“Sobra ang kita ng mga iyan. Mga bilyonaryo iyan. Kasama na iyan sa computation…iyong mga amount na iyan,” he noted.
The task force was specifically ordered by Duterte to investigate the nonpayment or underpayment of taxes in STL operations nationwide and run after those liable, noting that billions are being lost by the government.
Aguirre said the government aims to increase its revenues from STL, after finding out that only 10 percent to 15 percent of the total revenues are remitted to the PCSO during the previous administration.
Aguirre revealed the government, under the Duterte administration, has also issued new implementing rules increasing the minimum remittance of the STL operators.
“The implementing rules already took effect and have so far resulted in unprecedented high collections in the first few months of operations under the Duterte administration,” he added.
STL was formulated by the government to combat the illegal-numbers game jueteng.
But earlier reports had it that some franchise holders of STL actually operate jueteng by using government permits as front.
The PCSO earlier said it is set to release stricter implementing rules for STL operations to finally put an end to jueteng.
There are only 18 authorized agent corporations all over the country accredited for STL operations.