Duterte names ‘killer’ PCSO head

PRESIDENT Duterte has tapped a retired Marine general, who testified about the massive cheating during the 2004 elections, to “kill” corrupt officials in the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

Retired Maj. Gen. Alexander Balutan, who was earlier reported to head the Bureau of Corrections, took his oath on Monday as general manager of the state-run lottery agency, replacing Ferdinand Rojas III.

Mr. Duterte also appointed former police Director Jorge Corpus as PCSO chair, succeeding former Cavite Gov. Erineo “Ayong” Maliksi.

Balutan is a member of Philippine Military Academy Class 1983, while Corpus belongs to Class ‘82.

“I know both of them. I have never heard of them being involved in corruption,” the President said.

He also named political analyst and former University of the Philippines VP for public affairs Prospero de Vera commissioner of the Commission on Higher Education.

The President had said he wanted a “killer” to head the PCSO, calling it a corrupt government agency for allowing operators of the illegal numbers game “jueteng” to continue with their activities using the state-sanctioned small town lottery as cover.