The closure of all outlets of lotto, small town lottery and other gaming schemes under the auspices of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) proves that the government is “unrelenting in its war against corruption and unforgiving to the transgressors of the law.”

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said culprits will be identified soon and the massive corruption further exposed.

“It appears that there is a grand conspiracy among the major players and enforcers of these government-sanctioned gaming activities and enterprises to cheat the government of its rightful shares, depriving therefore the masses of our people of receiving basic services needed by them,” Panelo said in a statement.

“The Chief Executive will identify the culprits in due time and the full force of the law will come crushing down on them. This hydra-headed corruption will be cut off until it reproduces no more.”

A 2018 Commission on Audit (COA) 2018 called out the PCSO for its failure to remit P8.426 billion worth of dividends to the national government from 1994 to 2016.

The President, whom Panelo described as “outraged,” ordered all licence, concessionaires and franchises issued by the PCSO recalled, cancelled and withdrawn effective immediately.

All law enforcers are directed to implement the President’s directives with dispatch and without exception.

“Let this be a stern warning to all malefactors in the government, as well as all the enemies of the state. The President shall continue to brandish the flaming sword of his office and strike it at the heart of this social and political monstrous dragon,” Panelo added.