Panelo: No plans to abolish PCSO

PCSO lotto outlets in Ilagan City have ceased operating as they heeded President Rodrigo Duterte’s order. (Photo by VILLAMOR VISAYA JR. / Inquirer Northern Luzon)

MANILA, Philippines—For now, President Rodrigo Duterte has no plans to abolish Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) amid allegations of corruption, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Duterte last week ordered all PCSO-operated, -licensed, and -franchised games stopped due to alleged “massive corruption.”

READ: Duterte stops all PCSO gaming activities including lotto, STL

But Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo on Tuesday clarified that Duterte had no plans to abolish PCSO, at least for now.

“Sa ngayon, wala. Kung meron man, madali nang gawan ng paraan ‘yun,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

The PCSO, a GOCC under the Office of the President, is the principal government agency for raising and providing funds for health programs, medical assistance and services, and charities of national character.

It conducts charity sweepstakes and lotteries and engages in health and welfare-related investments, projects, and activities to provide for permanent and continuing sources of funds for its programs.

Duterte’s order has resulted in the shut down of a total of 30,284 gaming outlets operated by PCSO since Saturday. /je

READ: Over 30,000 PCSO gaming outlets shut down