MANILA - An authorized agent corporation of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office allegedly continues to run jueteng games in the guise of small town lottery (STL) games in Camarines Sur, a lawmaker said.

Camarines Sur Rep. L-Ray Villafuerte told a Senate hearing that Evenchance gaming firm allows minors to place bets and collect bets outside authorized stations. "This is clearly jueteng," the congressman said.

He added Evenchance failed to remit P893 million from March to October 2017. He said the firm did not secure business permits because it claims to be "an extension" of the PCSO.

He said the PCSO should have revoked the license of the authorized agent corporation when he first complained about it before the board.

"PCSO by saying that the ACC are their agent in their extension -by that legal definition alone, if you allow your agent to violate, then you are violating, you are liable," said Villafuerte, fearing that more agents are allowed to run illegal numbers games in other places.

PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan, for his part, said the agency already forwarded the reported violations to the Philippine National Police. He said the case against Evenchance is now in the courts.

"We are not tolerating that. After the last congressional hearing last December, we summoned the PNP and asked them to investigate this because as far as we are concerned kami po ay walang law enforcement authority," he said.