PRO-RH RALLY Pepe Bawagan, a leading supporter of the RH bill, wears a bishop’s robe and hat with a cardboard Pajero during Monday’s celebration of World Population Day. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
Vice President Jejomar Binay has taken up the cudgels for Catholic bishops who received financial and other forms of assistance from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) during the Arroyo administration.
Binay told reporters over the weekend that “there’s a presumption” that PCSO funds would be used by the bishops to serve their poor parishioners.
“What’s important there was that the funds were used to help the poor and the hungry,” he said.
Binay also pointed out the PCSO fund releases had “disclosure.”
Joey Salgado, Binay’s media officer, said “it refers to the bishops stating the purpose and where the requested funds will be used, and public disclosure or reporting on its use.”
“There is the presumption that these funds will be used to serve the poor, and there is always a way to find out,” Salgado told the Inquirer.