The Undersecretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government clarified that the proper authority to issue pronouncements as to the legitimacy of “Bingo Milyonaryo” is the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
 
The clarification was in response to a query by Bacolod Councilor Carlos Jose Lopez on the position of the DILG with respect to the operations of the online lottery game.
         
In his letter to Lopez dated July 8, Peter Irving Corvera, of the DILG, however, said that their office will not condone the continued operations of any gambling activity that may be declared illegal, or any business operation that does not have the necessary license from the proper governmental agency or permit from the pertinent local government units.
         
In these instances, the DILG, through its agencies, will have to act accordingly, he said.
Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella had said earlier that he has ordered the operation of Bingo Milyonaryo in Bacolod stopped because it is illegal.

Puentevella claimed that Bingo Milyonaryo was not issued a permit by City Hall because its operation was not allowed by the Department of Interior Local Government.
Abegail Reformina, Negros Occidental provincial manager of PCSO, however, said the operations of the lottery game Bingo Milyonaryo is legal because it is one of the projects of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

 The draw by PCSO is televised every night, together with the lotto results, she said.

Reformina said the result of Bingo Milyonaryo is also posted in some national dailies together with other PCSO online games so, it is legal.

The three draws of Bingo Milyonaryo are centralized and being conducted by the PCSO central office in Manila, she said, adding that its last draw during night time is conducted together with the results of the lotto.

Lopez said he had called up PCSO general manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas and the Office of DILG Secretary Mar Roxas and was informed that there is no official order from either agency to stop the operation of Bingo Milyonaryo.*CGS

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