Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he is encouraging the National Bureau of Investigation to continue investigating and filing cases against barangay officials who may be involved in illegal Small Town Lottery (STL) operations.
They should file charges, especially if they have very strong cases, Lacson said on Friday, March 10.
“Why should we operate an illegal numbers game when there is also a legitimate numbers game here in Negros Occidental?“ Lacson asked.
The NBI filed criminal charges on Wednesday against three barangay captains for alleged involvement in illegal STL operations in Kabankalan City.
Named in the complaint were Noli Villarosa of Tangub, Bacolod, who was tagged as the “financier”, and Franz Leonard Seguero and Joel Alibango of Kabankalan City, who are the alleged protectors of the illegal STL operations, NBI Bacolod Chief Renoir Baldovino said.
Villarosa has denied the accusations.
“If the NBI really has a strong case so be it”, Lacson said.
“Our investigation is continuing and in the coming days we may file more charges,” Baldovino said on Wednesday.
Baldovino stressed that Super Lucky Beagler Inc. is the only firm authorized by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to operate STL in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City.*