In the face of impending disclosure of names of House Members allegedly receiving the 2.25% of net receipts generated by operators of the small-town lottery (STL), Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo is first to vent – unequivocably – that any allusion that might be made is entirely bereft of truth since then QC local chief executive now House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte did not allow STL operations in the city.
“As a matter of fact, the would-be STL operators even brought the case to court questioning the policy of then QC Mayor Feliciano Belmonte but all to naught since the court sided with the wishes of the city mayor. That alone makes it impossible for any allusion to be made that some House Members have been in the ‘payroll’ of STL operators since they are banned from operating in QC in the first place”, Castelo pointed out.
“For the sake of truth and justice, it should be properly disclosed if the whole of QC has ever been a test area for STL since, historically enough, it has failed to secure the approval and authority of the City Mayor to operate unless of course these have operated underground and without one knowing them”, the QC solon emphasized.
“Certainly, PCSO doesn’t have to give any share of that 2.25% monthly payoff to anyone in areas where the STL cannot operate because precisely it was never allowed by the then city mayor and more so by the courts”, Castelo finally pointed out. 30
