Atong Ang blasts PCSO execs for being ‘disrespectful’
Gaming consultant Charlie “Atong’” Ang has turned the table on top officials of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) after he has been accused of allegedly offering to operate the Small Town Lottery (STL) in exchange of P200 million monthly remittances to the agency.
At a joint hearing in the Senate on Wednesday, Ang confronted PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan over the latter’s allegation against him.
Ang confirmed that he met with Balutan and resigned PCSO chairman Jose Jorge Elizalde Corpuz in 2016 but denied that he had any “interest” in the operations of STL.
He also lamented how Balutan and Corpuz had treated him during the meeting when he introduced himself as a consultant.
Gambling operator Charlie “Atong” Ang. INQUIRER.net / CATHY MIRANDA
“Consultant of what? Can you show me your ID or your papers? Can you write down kung ano gusto mo (what you really want)? Talagang binastos ako (I was really disrespected),” Ang recalled Corpuz telling him.
“Si Balutan nakangiti lang. Syempre binastos ako, binastos si Sandra, sumagot ako. Sabi ko, hindi ako nagpunta dito para mag apply sayo, sa STL mo…,” he said, referring to newly appointed PCSO board member Sandra Cam, who was also present in the meeting.
(Balutan was just smiling. Of course I was disrespected as well as Sandra, and I answered back. I said I came here not to apply to you, in your STL…)
“Ngayon ang gusto ko lang patunayan dito kung gaano kaloko ang dalawang heneral dito,” he said. “Sinabi ko kay Corpuz, hindi ako nagpunta dito para mag-apply sayo, pumunta ako dito para sabihin ko lang sayo pinapunta ako para tulungan sana kayo.”
(Now, I just want to prove here how foolish these two generals are. I told Corpuz I did not come to apply to you, I came just to tell you I was asked to go here so I can be hopefully of help.)
“Kaya ko s’ya ginanun dahil binabastos n’ya (Corpuz) kami. Noong panahon na ‘yun si Balutan kakampi namin dahil gusto n’yang agawin ang pwesto ni Corpuz noong time na ‘yun kaya nakangiti pa s’ya. Ngiti pa s’ya ng ngiti ng ganun,” Ang said.
(The reason I did that to him [Corpuz] is because he was disrespecting us. During the time, Balutan was an ally because he wanted to grab the post of Corpuz during those times, that’s why he was just smiling. He was just full of smiles.)
Also during that meeting, Ang said he advised the PCSO officials that it should be the one to operate the STL and not any private individuals.
“Ang ginagawa nyo pina franchise nyo para lang kumita kayong lahat,” he said. /jpv
RELATED STORY
Balutan vs Cam: Gambling lord dragged into PCSO squabble
