2 former PCSO execs placed on watch list over fund mess

MANILA, Philippines—The Bureau of Immigration has placed on its watch list two former top officials of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) amid a questionable release of multimillion-peso charity funds during their term.

In a two-page order, immigration acting associate commissioner Abdullah Mangotara said that vice chair and general manager Rosario Uriarte  and former PCSO ads and promotions manager Manuel Garcia have been placed on a watch list.

The two who were PCSO officials during the Arroyo administration could not leave the country without travel clearance from the Department of Justice.

A total of P325 million in confidential intelligence funds of the PCSO were released for possibly non-existent projects from 2008 to 2010, a Senate inquiry showed.

The watchlist, according to Mangotara, will be valid for 60 days unless revoked or extended by the DoJ.