MANILA, Philippines — Whether or not there is indeed corruption within the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), the agency’s General Manager Royina Garma said she would leave that up to the investigators.
Speaking at a press conference in PCSO’s Head Office in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday, Garma said the agency is “open” to any kind of investigation.
“Kung may korapsyon o wala, I will leave that up to that to the investigators, our office is open sa lahat ng klase ng investigation,” she said.
“Alam niyo po, napakalawak kasi when you talk of corruption, marami, pwede sa loob, sa labas, pwede sa proseso. Kaya ito po’y inaaral namin para lahat po ng puwedeng pagdudahan…na maaaring pwedeng pumasok ang corruption, yo’n po ang ginagawa namin ngayon,” she further said.
Prio to the media conference, the PCSO officially announced the resumption of its lottery operations after President Rodrigo Duterte lifted its suspension.
Last Friday, the President ordered the suspension of all the gaming activities of the PCSO following a meeting with Garma.
READ: PCSO suspends gaming activities; execs may appeal to Duterte
Four days later, Malacañang announced the lifting of suspension of PCSO’s Lotto operations but said that other gaming activities of the agency—such as the Small-Town Lottery (STL), Keno, and Peryahan ng Bayan (PNB)—remains suspended.
READ: Lotto back; probe of PCSO to focus on corruption
“The rest of all gaming operations with franchises, licenses or permits granted by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), such as Small-Town Lottery (STL), Keno and Peryahan ng Bayan (PNB), shall remain suspended pending the investigation of illegal activities and corrupt practices related thereto until the Office of the President evaluates the results of said probe,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement Tuesday night.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, meanwhile, has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to probe the alleged “massive corruption” within the PCSO. /je