THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) is optimistic in providing better services to the public in the coming months along with the prospect of higher revenues after newly minted Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. vowed to launch an intensified crackdown against illegal gambling operations in the country.

Acorda made the pledge during his recent meeting with PCSO’s general manager Mel Robles, assuring he would strictly enforce the one-strike policy against police commanders who would fail to stop illegal gambling activities in their respective areas of responsibility.

Robles explained the unhampered illegal gambling operations greatly affect their agency’s ability to generate higher revenues as the greater portion of their earnings end up in the hands of illegal gambling operators.

“In turn, those losses deprive poor Filipino citizens of the health care and other benefits the PCSO provides,” Robles stressed.

Both Acorda and Robles warned the gambling operators to stop engaging in such illegal activities or otherwise be dealt severely under existing laws.