Rogue politicians continue to entice some Malacañang officials to just allow the illegal numbers game jueteng to thrive because they need campaign funds for their reelection bids in the 2019 midterm elections. Even political wannabes, both administration allies and opposition, are eyeing jueteng money.
The truth is, these politicians want jueteng to thrive because they can’t line their pockets with the revenues of the Small Town Lottery (STL) of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
I hate to see the PCSO going to the dogs. If this happens, General Manager Alexander “Mandirigma” Balutan will not stay a minute longer at the PCSO. I’m very sure of that.
The former Marine general has an unblemished track record and he will never trade this for payola or whatever, as some corrupt officials would want him to do. He will never play the “game of gambling lords.” His integrity and leadership by example helped boost the PCSO’s revenues after President Duterte appointed him general manager in September 2016. At the PCSO, he walks the talk. He never capitulates to political whims meant to destroy the agency. That’s why Duterte had chosen him to head the PCSO to rid the agency of corruption.
Stories of alleged Malacañang bigwigs flexing muscles in juicy government agencies to generate campaign funds are not new. Unfortunately for these corrupt officials, the PCSO under Mandirigma’s watch will never become a milking cow for them. That’s the reason Duterte asked him to head the PCSO.
So please spare the agency from this kind of corrupt practice because it’s the gaming public that would be at the losing end. The money that they contribute through various PCSO games such as Lotto, Keno (Digit Games), STL and Sweepstakes is being used to fund the government’s free medical services for the people. Everyday more and more Filipinos in need of medical assistance—such as dialysis—are flooding the gates of PCSO offices, apart from indigents seeking financial assistance, especially those who can’t pay for their hospital bills.
The money that the PCSO has earmarked for the sick in the form of medical assistance does not come from the people’s taxes. It comes from the gaming public who continue to believe and trust in PCSO’s lottery games. They patronize the games because they know that they will also benefit from the PCSO services when they need it the most.
Mandirigma is not afraid to speak up, to tell the truth in public when he sees there’s a need to do it. He knows that the people is on his side, and he is ready to defend what is right and just.
He said: “A good commander is one who solves a crisis, but a better commander prevents it from happening. I choose to be the better commander.” He has been there before and he will do it again.
Last year the PCSO earned P52.9 billion, and this year it projects revenues to reach P60 billion. Mandirigma would not allow corrupt politicians to touch the money allotted to the people, especially the sick.
E-mail: fetad@yahoo.com.