MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is “thoroughly” investigating the corruption allegations at the state-run Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Malacañang said Monday.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte had received confirmed reports about “massive corruption” at the PCSO in cahoots with the courts.
“Well, sabi niya merong grand conspiracy ‘yung mga player, participants ng mga gaming corporations. In other words, merong massive corruption; pati hukuman kasama,” Panelo said in a DZMM interview.
(Well, he said there is a grand conspiracy between the players, participants and gaming corporations. In other words, there is massive corruption and the courts are involved.)
In a video message on Friday night, Duterte “ordered the closure, the stoppage of all gaming schemes” of PCSO and ordered the police to shut down lotto and other PCSO gaming outlets nationwide.
READ: Duterte stops all PCSO gaming activities including lotto, STL
The President said he would not honor any court order from now on that would stop the government from investigating the corruption allegations in the PCSO.
Duterte’s order to stop all PCSO gaming activities came a month after he would prefer the numbers racket “jueteng,” saying it is a lesser evil compared to illegal drugs.
READ: Duterte prefers ‘jueteng,’ says it’s lesser evil compared to drugs
Panelo said Duterte was still thoroughly investigating the corruption allegations and said the President would identify those involved soon.
“Sa ngayon kasi…sabi nga ni Presidente, iniimbestigahan niyang maigi para malaman niya at matukoy niya kung sino ‘yong mga involved at i-a-identify niya lahat sa lalong madaling panahon,” he said.
(For now, the President said he is thoroughly investigating the corruption activities to know and identify who are those involved and he will identify all of them soon).
“Until such time na hindi pa natatapos ang imbestigasyon, sarado muna lahat,” he added.
(Until the investigation is not yet finished, all outlets will be closed).
When asked how long the outlets would stay closed, Panelo said “Si Presidente naman mabilis, eh. Kita mo mabilis agad ‘yong order niyang ipasarado.”
(The President acts quickly. You saw how fast his order was in shutting down the outlets.)
He said Duterte and PCSO general manager Royina Garma met before the President made his announcement.
“Nag-meeting si Presidente ‘tsaka yung bagong head ng PCSO bago niya in-announce ‘yun, a few hours before. In fact, magkakasama sila at the time,” he said.
(The President and the new PCSO head had a meeting a few hours before he announced it. In fact, they were together at that time). /je