No Pajeros for bishops; groups got PCSO aid

NO Cebu bishop received a Pajero from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) during the Arroyo administration, two officials of the Cebu Archdiocese said yesterday.

But a head of a church-based organization admitted seeking and receiving funds from PCSO until 2009.

The vehicles were supposedly donated by the Arroyo administration at the height of the “Hello Garci” scandal of 2005.

Msgr. Achilles Dakay, media liaison officer of the Cebu Archdiocese said Bishops Emilio Bataclan of Danao City, Bishop Julito Cortes of the Sto. Rosario Parish in Cebu City and retired Bishop Antonio Rañola didn’t receive any Pajero from the PCSO.

Dakay’s statements were echoed by Episcopal Vicar Msgr. Esteban Binghay who said these bishops did not own a Pajero.

Binghay said he was sure that even Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and Archbishop Jose Palma are not among the recipients. Palma is currently in Rome.

But Binghay said the Theotokos Archdiocesan Shrine through him and rector Fr. John Roña requested then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for a road improvement leading to the shrine in Perrelos, Carcar City.

Dr. Rene Josef Bullecer, national director of the church-based and Cebu-based AIDS-Free Philippines admitted that his office requested funds from PCSO until 2009 or a year before Arroyo’s departure.

But Bullecer said the solicitation of funds was done even during the term of former President Joseph Estrada.

The funds, which ranged from half a million to P1.5 million, were intended for the nationwide campaign against AIDS.

He said they can hardly seek funds from the PCSO since they don’t know anyone in the organization. Correspondent Jhunnex Napallacan