PCSO exec faces P28-M graft rap

HTTP://WWW.PCSO.GOV.PH

TWO advertising agency executives Wednesday filed a P28-million graft complaint against a former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) official accusing him of allegedly demanding a cut from their payments from the PCSO for a number of years.

The separate complaints against Manuel Garcia, the PCSO’s former advertising and promotions and special projects manager, were filed before the Office of the Ombudsman.

The complainants are Ludovico Yuseco of Cross-Channel Advertising Services and Alexander Quisumbing of Quizgem, an advertising agency, blocktimer and producer.

Yuseco and Quisumbing, whose companies made placements for PCSO advertisements, alleged that Garcia regularly demanded a percentage of the fees they collected from the agency and that Garcia’s share collectively added up to P28 million over the years.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer repeatedly sought Garcia’s reaction but calls went unanswered.

PCSO Board Secretary Eduardo Araullo said Garcia was officially dropped from the PCSO roster of officials last May 9 after failing to comply with a PCSO directive to submit a medical certificate to support his request for a year’s leave.

Araullo said Garcia had asked for a leave of absence for one year citing health reasons, but was not granted one because of a civil service rule that sets a maximum of six months’ leave.

He said Garcia had submitted a health certificate from the clinic at the House of Representatives, instead of the PCSO medical officer, to support his petition for a leave of absence. This prompted the PCSO board to declare Garcia AWOL although he may still file an appeal to return to office.

“But he now has to face these charges,” said Araullo.

Araullo told reporters that advertising firms have been complaining about Garcia, but the agency told them that it could not help them unless they come up with an affidavit that could be used to file a case against Garcia.

In his complaint, Yuseco said that every time he would collect his company’s money from the PCSO, Garcia would always demand a share. Garcia also allegedly threatened not to act on Cross Channel’s proposals and collections unless he got his share.

Yuseco said Garcia’s share was deposited in the latter’s Banco De Oro account. The deposits that Yuseco made from 2008 to 2010 amounted to P12.61 million.

Yuseco included in his affidavit a list of deposits that Cross Channel made into Garcia’s account, including the exact date and the specific amount that was deposited. He also attached to his affidavit the machine copies of the BDO deposit slips.

Quisumbing had a similar tale. He alleged that every time he would collect payments from the PCSO, Garcia would demand his share, threatening not to recommend the company’s proposals otherwise.

The amount he had given to Garcia added up to P16.101 million, Quisumbing said.

He said he deposited checks in the name of Alex Quisumbing and Manuel Garcia into accounts in Philtrust and Bank of Commerce. But he said that the checks issued to Alex Quisumbing were actually encashed and the proceeds delivered and deposited in Garcia’s account. With Penelope Endoso