The Philippine National Police has been directed to investigate an online lottery app after it was found to have misused the logo, photos and other markings of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The DILG issued the mandate on Monday, after reports that the ‘PCSO Lotto Online Award’, as well as the related Facebook page ‘Online Lotto’ misused photos taken during a DILG event as advertising material.
According to DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla, the PNP’s Anti-Cybercrime Group has been ordered to investigate the incident, which has also been reported to Facebook parent company Meta “for further action”.
“The Department of the Interior and Local Government strongly condemns the unauthorized use of our logos, photos, and other Department markings and materials for unrelated posts, advertisements, or any malicious purposes,” stated Remulla, as reported by the Philippine News Agency.
The photos in question involve the Seal of Good Local Governance 2024 award ceremony and incentive fund national expo, which authorities say are completely unlinked to the online lottery.
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) is the government agency that holds charity sweepstakes, races and lotteries to provide funds for government programs.
Pacific Online Systems Corporation operates the application, e-lotto and digital versions of the PCSO’s lottery games.
