PCSO inquiry: Arroyo to be charged if evidence warrants, says Aquino spokesman

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang will pursue appropriate charges against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo if the Senate inquiry into the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s questionable disbursements during her administration yields enough evidence linking her to wrongdoing, President Aquino’s spokesman said Thursday.

“The purpose of the whole incident is to show how funds of the PCSO that are intended for charitable purposes have been diverted to a favored few and the Senate investigates in order to correct that impairment or that wrong,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during a regular Palace news briefing that ended at 1:30 p.m.

“If it so happens that there’s evidence that links the former President, then let justice be done though the heavens fall,” Lacierda said.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Thursday grilled former PCSO general manager and vice chairperson Rosario Uriarte over the disbursement of millions of pesos from the agency’s intelligence funds.

Fund releases in connection with purported intelligence projects were approved by Arroyo and disbursed by Uriarte.

Senators expressed doubts on the veracity of Uriarte’s claims that the funds were indeed used in connection with the PCSO’s small town lottery operations.