PACC sets lifestyle check on PCSO board members, ex-GM Balutan

MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) is poised to do a “motu propio” lifestyle check on all board members of the state-run Philippines Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), including its former general manager Alexander Balutan.

PACC commissioner Greco Belgica said in a text message to INQUIRER.net on Wednesday that they will conduct the lifestyle check “in response to President (Rodrigo) Duterte’s announcement to suspend all PCSO operations because of massive corruption without prejudice to the PCSO cases pending before us.”

“No special treatment and no one will be exempted. Everyone will be treated the same and our recommendation shall be based on the pieces of evidence gathered during the investigation,” he added.

In an earlier, separate interview thru phone, Belgica said the lifestyle check would be conducted on all PCSO board members.

“We will start with the board, the decision makers. All those in the board,” he said. 

According to the PCSO website, the charity’s board of directors are chairman Anselmo Simeon Pinili, and members Marlon Balite, Sandra Cam, and Ramon Ike Señeres.

Belgica said PCSO vice chairperson and general manager Royina Garma was spared from the lifestyle check since he assumed the post only last June. 

Belgica further said their lifestyle check will include Balutan “in his capacity as general manager of PCSO before na na-involved sa mga (that got involved in) corruption.”

This is even if the resigned PCSO official is now a civilian and no longer working in government.

“Oo, kasi at that time that the crime was committed or a crime was committed, he was a government official so meron po kaming jurisdiction doon,” Belgica explained when asked on the authority of PACC to investigate on Balutan.

Last Friday night, Duterte ordered to stop all PCSO gaming activities over “massive corruption” in the agency.

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

Four days after, Panelo announced that Duterte has lifted suspension only for PCSO’s Lotto operations.

READ: Suspension of Lotto operations lifted – Panelo

/kga