MANILA- President Rodrigo Duterte allowed the resumption of lotto operations because he is "satisfied" with it, Malacañang said Wednesday.

Lotto was only dragged into corruption allegations affecting the entire Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, said Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo.

"Yung lotto operations, sabi ni Presidente sa akin kanina, he is satisfied with the lotto operations that’s why he directed the lifting," Panelo told reporters.
(The President told me that he is satisfied with the lotto operations that’s why he directed the lifting.)

"Ang corruption, yung charges against the entire gaming operations…Nadamay ang lotto (lotto was dragged)," he said.

"Immediately, after makita ang findings na they followed the rules at wala naman nakitang irregularity kaya pina-lift na agad," he said.

(After findings showed that they followed the rules and there is no irregularity, the suspension order was immediately lifted.)

Gaming schemes such as the Peryahan ng Bayan, small town lottery (STL) and Keno, however, remain suspended pending the results of an investigation into allegations of corruption.

Over 30,000 lotto outlets and gaming kiosks were shut over the weekend after Duterte declared all PCSO gaming schemes illegal.

• Lotto draws resume Wednesday, says PCSO