Iloilo prov’l board prepares for STL hearings
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Iloilo will constitute itself as a committee of the whole to conduct a series of public hearings on the proposed operation of Small Town Lottery (STL) in the province.
Vice Gov. Richard Garin said the committee will meet tomorrow to discuss the procedures on the conduct of public hearings.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. had earlier requested the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to conduct public hearings on the proposal of Around D’World Gaming Corp. headed by its president Donald Leoy to operate STL in the province.
Defensor then said he would leave it to the decision of the public through the consultations whether to allow STL to operate in the province.
The governor said he is not against the operation of STL in the province because he believes that with STL, the existence of illegally operated numbers games such as “daily double” and “jueteng” will be eradicated.
He said that in STL, the government has a share of income because it is legal.
“I must confess that eradicating jueteng or any illegal gambling in this country is quite difficult, but I believe it can be minimized so long as the leaders have the will and commitment to fight illegal gambling,” Defensor said.
He added that illegal numbers games thrive in the province because of STL in Iloilo City, whose results are being used by illegal operators.*
