Lottery agents dare PCSO's Robles to show proof of 'scam'

A group of online lottery agents has dared Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Mel Robles to prove his accusation that the group is scamming lotto bettors.

In a statement on Thursday, the Philippine Online Lottery Agents Association Inc. (POLAAi) also said they should not be blamed for the controversies hounding the PCSO under Robles' watch.

“Bilang Social Media Secretary ng [POLAAi], hinahamon ko si Ginoong Robles na maglabas ng ebidensiya na isangkot ang aming organisasyon sa sinasabi niyang 'scam' sa operasyon ng lotto.  Huwag nyang ibato ang sisi sa amin kung sa mga panahon ngayon ay nababalot ng malaking anomalya ang kanyang liderato sa ahensya na ipinagkatiwala ng ating Presidente na pamunuan niya,” said POLAAi Social Media Secretary Clarisse Imperial.  

(As Social Media Secretary of POLAAi, I am daring Mr. Robles to show evidence that our organization is involved in what he is saying as 'scam' in lotto. He should not blame us if, under his leadership, the agency that has been entrusted to him by our President is hounded by anomalies.)

POLAAi issued the statement after Robles, in an interview with The Mangahas Interviews, accused POLAAI of "scamming" lotto bettors by accepting payments for lotto tickets but cancelling the bets in their system.

Robles said he can prove this allegation and they are eyeing to file charges against the involved individuals.

To recall, POLAAI was the group that raised concerns about the alleged abrupt closure of 2,000 lotto outlets.

In their statement, Imperial turned the tables on Robles, accusing him of not addressing the myriad of issues that have long plagued lottery agents.

“Mabuti pa ang media hinaharap nya at sinasagot nya pero kaming mga lotto agents na bago pa sya umupo sa pwesto nya ay andyan na ay hindi man lang nya binigyan ng oras para pakinggan ang aming panig,” she added. 

(He had time to face the media but but not us lotto agents who were already there before even before he took the position.)

Imperial said they have only two requests: to rehire the 2,000 agents who lost their jobs and for Robles to sign the memorandum that will return the hotline-assisted cancellations to ease their work. —Sherylin Untalan/KBK, GMA Integrated News