Bohol police chief opposes STL entry

By Kit Bagaipo
Inquirer Visayas

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines—Bohol’s top police officer opposed the entry of small town lottery (STL) in the province, saying it will just promote, not wipe out, illegal numbers games.

“I don’t honestly believe STL will help eliminate the existing illegal numbers game such as ‘swertres’,” said Senior Supt. Edgardo Inking, Bohol police chief. “Instead, this will only worsen illegal gambling.”

Ingking said he has submitted a position paper to the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) expressing opposition to the entry of STL here.

He said illegal gambling financiers and operators would only exploit the legalized STL and use this as a cover for an illegal version.

He said in Bohol, at least 27 financiers operate the illegal numbers game called ‘swertres.’

Winning numbers in swertres were once dictated by results of jai-alai, but with jai-alai gone, swertres was transformed into the Visayas version of jueteng, which bases its winning numbers on clandestine lottery draws.

On May 15, police arrested Barangay Captain Manolo Blanco of Barangay Mansasa, Tagbilaran City.

Blanco was caught in possession of illegal gambling paraphernalia and P534,880 in cash believed to be bets on swertres.

Police said Blanco was a “big fish” in illegal gambling in the city.
“We cannot succeed (against) these gambling financiers if the community does not cooperate and if STL outlets are allowed to operate,” Ingking said.

But town mayors in the province remain divided over whether to allow STL to operate in their towns.

Several mayors have already declared their support for STL citing its benefits to local government units (LGUs) which are entitled to shares in STL income.

Of total STL revenues, 55 percent are supposed to be for prizes, 30 percent for charity and 15 percent for operations.

Of the 30 percent for charity, 10 percent is for the LGU in the area where STL operates, 5 percent for the province and 5 percent for the congressional district.