Sison: Small Town Lottery, Front of Jueteng Lords?

May 14, 2011

THE Small Town Lottery (STL) is allegedly being used as a “front” by jueteng operators to hide their illegal activities in many parts of the country, according to two lawmakers.
This prompted Reps. Rufus B. Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro) and Maximo B. Rodriguez Jr. (Party-list, Abante Mindanao) to file House Bill 3750, which requires STL operators to get the approval of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and the local government units (LGUs) before they can start their operations.
PCSO general manager Ferdinand Rojas II himself admitted that the STL was being used as a front by some jueteng operators, according to Rodriguez.
Rodriguez said some governors and mayors have ordered the stoppage or suspension of STL operations in their areas invoking their alleged absolute decentralized powers to regulate any business within their territorial jurisdiction pursuant to the Local Government Code of 1991.
However, upon the request of PCSO Chairperson Margarita Juico, the Department of Justice issued an opinion ruling that LGUs have no power to stop the operations of the STL and other similar lotteries in cities and towns.
Rodriguez said the DOJ further ruled that the authority of city or municipal governments to regulate businesses within their respective areas of jurisdiction under Section 447 and 458 of the Local Government Code of 1991 does not include the power over operations of national government agencies and its instrumentalities.
It means that LGUs have no power to issue business permits, licenses to the agencies and instrumentalities of the State, of which PCSO is one, nor demand a permit or collect license fees incidental to the issuance of such permits or licenses.
The DOJ opinion may have weakened the LGUs because they are now powerless to act against gambling lords who use the legal STL as a front for illegal gambling, like jueteng.
Under the bill, operators of STL and other lotteries sanctioned by the PCSO are mandated to first secure a permit from the LGU where they plan to operate before they can start their operations.
The measure mandates the PCSO to first secure from applicants of STL franchises the approval of the LGU where they plan to operate before granting the franchise.
The bill further provides that all STL franchise holders upon the approval of the proposed act are given 60 days to secure the necessary permit from the LGU where they are operating in order for them to be able to continue their operations.
Despite being named as such, the PCSO’s small town lottery STL or any other existing lottery games cannot be regulated by the LGUs, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said.
De Lima made this clarification in response to the letter of PCSO chairman Margarita Juico, asking whether LGU chief executives have the “authority to summarily and unilaterally stop or suspend the operations of PCSO’s STL and similar lotteries in their areas of jurisdiction.”
She also reiterated the DOJ’s views in Legal Opinion No. 74 issued in 1995 in order to guide the PCSO in addressing the issues it raised pertaining to its STL and other lottery operations.
In the said legal opinion, the DOJ stressed that while Section 447 and 458 of the Local Government Code of 1991 gives the municipality or city the power to regulate businesses within their area of jurisdiction, such power does not cover national government agencies and its instrumentalities.
“Put differently, it means LGUs have no power to issue business permits, licenses to the agencies and instrumentalities of the State, of which the PCSO is one, nor demand or collect permit/license fees incident to the issuance of such permits/licenses,” the 1995 DOJ legal opinion said. “Its duly appointed sales agents are, as you have pointed out, mere extensions of the PCSO, and should, like the PCSO, be also considered exempt from the licensing authority of the LGUs where they operate,” it said.
The PCSO made this request to the DOJ after receiving word that some governors and mayors have ordered the stoppage or suspension of STL operations in their areas, invoking their decentralized powers to regulate any business within their territorial jurisdiction pursuant to the Local Government Code of 1991. The PCSO stressed that this cannot be done by LGU chiefs since they did not have “neither power nor authority to suspend or stop lottery games sanctioned or operated by the PCSO” as stated by Republic Act No. 1169, the operating charter of the gaming agency and certain decisions of the Supreme Court.
But De Lima declined to render a full opinion on the matter, citing Executive Order No. 596 which states that the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) shall be the principal law officer of government-owned and controlled corporations, and government instrumentality vested with corporate powers. The DOJ chief also said that Section 1 of Administrative Order 130, mandates that all legal matters pertaining to GOCCs, their subsidiaries, corporate offsprings and government-acquired asset corporations be referrece: d to and handled by the OGCC, unless their respective charters expressly name the Office of the Solicitor General as head legal counsel.

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/opinion/2011/05/14/sison-small-town-lottery-front-jueteng-lords-155412

Wine is becoming increasingly popular in Manila and other cities in the Philippines. Wine lovers in Manila travel to the north to visit Clark, Pampanga to shop for good and rate vintage wines at good duty-free prices. The most frequently visited liquor shop in Manila and wine shop in Pampanga is Clark Wine Center. This highly recommended wine shop located outside Manila near Angeles City, Pampanga in North Luzon is known for offering a great selection of fine vintage wine that is good quality and good value for money also.

This well-known wine shop is a famous shopping destination for wine enthusiasts in Manila and wine lovers from other cities in Asia including Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, Osaka and Tokyo.

Famous Philippines wine supplier known for its line of fine vintage wines, Yats Wine Cellars was established in 2000 to address the requirement of a growing population of wine enthusiasts in the Philippines. This 5-star wine shop caters to the discerning client who requires these qualities in their wines: (1) excellent value, (2) large selection of labels and vintages to choose from and (3) wines properly aged for full enjoyment.

Public wine tastings are held from time to time in Clark and sometimes in Manila. Tickets range from p500 to p1500 for these themed events that are professionally run –no wine merchants sponsorship, pushy salesmen or tacky banners to ruin the evening. Each ticket contains a certain number of stubs that can be redeemed for a tasting pour of a wine among those on a line-up which often contains wines that are quite old and expensive.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com