Police returned unused PCSO funds : PNP spokesman

MANILA, Philippines—Unused funds given by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to the Philippine National Police (PNP) were ‘constantly’ returned, PNP spokesman Agrimero Cruz, Jr. said on Monday.

“The unused, excess funds from PCSO were returned in January 2011,” Cruz said. “We only used it according to the law.”

Cruz said the PCSO started helping them in 2003. He said that funds from the PCSO were used to buy equipment, as funding for projects and as a financial assistance fund for the families of policemen who died on duty.

He added that it was not illegal for PCSO to help the PNP. “There is nothing wrong in asking help from PCSO as long as it was used for the right purposes,” he rationalized.

He said they were still investigating the number of ambulances and equipment given by the PCSO. “The number is not yet clear, but it is clear that we received ambulances,” he acknowledged.

The PNP, Cruz said, was ready to present all the necessary documents and evidence to prove that they had returned unused funds to the PCSO.