Duterte to look into ‘grandiose’ PCSO party

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque in news briefing at Malacañang last Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. (Photo by JOAN BONDOC / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

President Duterte, who dislikes extravagance, will look into the alleged lavish Christmas party of the government-run charity agency, according to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

Roque himself, however, could not immediately say if the reported P6-million to P10-million price tag for the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) party at the posh Edsa Shangri-La Hotel’s Isla Ballroom was extravagant.

“Well, I think you know that the President does not tolerate extravagance, so we do not know yet. I’m sure the President will look into the matter. As you know, he’s very sensitive to what is reported by his own people in the different branches of government,” he told reporters on Thursday.

“Let’s just say that with or without an order, the President takes heed,” he added.

Sandra Cam

The allegedly extravagant party on Tuesday was reported by newly appointed PCSO board member and former “jueteng” whistle-blower Sandra Cam, who criticized it and refused to join the “very grandiose” festivities in protest.

PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan told the Inquirer the party had cost P6 million, not P10 million as Cam had claimed.

Asked if he considered even the smaller amount still too much, Roque said he could not immediately say. He said he would have to first check how much was spent by PCSO officials.
He noted that the PCSO was a “nationwide organization.”

Funds for the poor

The PCSO is tasked with raising and providing funds for health programs, medical assistance and services, and charities of national character for the poor, mainly through lotteries.

The amount spent for the party was smaller than the P14 million that had been approved by the budget department, Balutan said. The money saved would be used for victims of recent calamities, he added.

PCSO Chair Jose Jorge Corpuz said the P6 million was for 1,580 employees nationwide.

Balutan said PCSO employees worked hard to raise the agency’s earnings from P37.4 billion to a record high of P51 billion this year.

“They were already stripped of their Christmas bonuses, 13th month pay. What they get are only basic salaries,” he added.