Defensor open to STL in province
If majority of Ilonggos want to legalize the operations of Small Town Lottery (STL) in Iloilo province, Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. said he will follow the voice of the people even if religious groups will oppose it.
At present, the PCSO is authorizng the Iloilo Small Town Lottery Gaming Corp. to operate the STL only in Iloilo City.
Defensor admitted that after the May 10 elections, he was approached with a proposal to bring STL to the province and he is open to the idea if the PCSO will approve its operation in the province.
But Defensor said a public hearing and consultation should be conducted first.
Granting that the public approves the STL operation, the governor said he still needs to talk to the municipal mayors regarding the disadvantage and advantages of the numbers game.
“STL is legal and there’s nothing wrong with it. I’m only against illegal numbers games,” he stressed.
Defensor has ordered Senior Supt. Gil Lebin, newly installed director of Iloilo Police Provincial Office, to arrest persons engaged in all forms of illegal gambling.
Illegal numbers games like “daily double” and and “first-two-ball” exist in the province.*