PNP received ‘support funds’ from PCSO, says police chief Bacalzo

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Police on Monday confirmed that it had received support funds from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

PNP Chief Director General Raul Bacalzo told reporters that the PNP had six accounts from the PCSO, four of which had become dormant.

The accounts included two PCSO Special Funds, PCSO Anti-illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force Funds, PCSO Financial Assistance Fund, PCSO Police Community Relations Group Fund, Program Management Committee Fund and Sweepstakes Operations Fund.

These funds were mostly used in financial assistance and purchase of equipment according to Bacalzo.

The two active accounts are PCSO Program Management Committee Fund and Sweepstakes Operations Fund with no more than P3.5 million.

Bacalzo said he ordered the closure of four accounts last January, while the two active funds—PCSO Anti-illegal Drugs and Special Funds, amounting to P84,890 and P364,759.07 respectively—had been returned to Bureau of National Treasury, also in January.

The PNP received support funds from the PCSO from 1997 to 2008, Bacalzo said, adding that
no funds were received in 2009 and 2010.

Bacalzo said there was nothing wrong with accepting assistance from the PCSO.

PNP spokesman Agrimero Cruz Jr., meanwhile, clarified that the PNP had not received any intelligence funds.

“We have not received any. As of this moment, we did not find anything from the identified funds that stated it was used for intelligence,” Cruz said, adding that the PNP has regular appropriation for intel funds in the annual budget.

While six PCSO accounts have been identified by the PNP, Cruz said it was possible that more accounts could be found.

An earlier report said that the PNP maintained at least 22 accounts from the PCSO.