MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday admitted that he talked to Charlie ‘Atong’ Ang to convince the gambling operator to stop his illegal activities.
Duterte made this remark after Ang told the Senate inquiry into the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) controversies on Wednesday that he was able to talk to the President in Davao City.
“I called him. I said: ‘Atong, you are the number one gambler here in Davao. You operated all. Let’s not fool each other. You go to the PCSO, you stop all the illegal and help the government,” President Duterte said in speech before leaving for New Delhi to attend India-ASEAN Special Commemorative Summit.
“That was the only reason why I called for Atong Ang,” the President added.
Duterte said Ang asked him many years ago if he could operate jai-alai in Davao.
“I told him: ‘We’re friends. Don’t push that jai-alai in Davao. We will become enemies,” Duterte said.
Ang testified before the Senate games and amusement committee that he also met with the former PCSO Chair Jose Jorge Elizalde Corpuz and General Manager Alexander Balutan on Sept. 14, 2016.
He claimed the meeting was arranged by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III who wanted him to help PCSO increase its revenue.
Balutan said Ang offered to remit PHP200-million monthly if he would be allowed to operate small town lottery or STL of the PCSO throughout out the country.
Ang’s proposal was not approved because Corpuz reportedly did not take the offer seriously.
Corpuz resigned last January 12 from his post due to health reasons and not because of newly-appointed PCSO board member Sandra Cam’s “exposé” that the PCSO has spent PHP6 million for its Christmas party. (PNA)
