“I am my own man.”
This was how Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board member Sandra Cam belied accusations that her friend, gaming consultant Charlie “Atong” Ang was behind her “smear campaign” against the agency.
PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan earlier said Cam was “lobbying out” for Ang.
“Ang aking na-expose ay yung Christmas party, aba’y pinasok nya na si Atong Ang (What I exposed was the Christmas party, but why he involves Atong Ang),” Cam said in an interview over Radyo Inquirer on Wednesday.
While confirming that she is friends with Ang, Cam said he has nothing to do with her accusation that PCSO spent P10 million for its Christmas party in a five-star hotel.
READ: Cam hits P10-M Christmas party of PCSO; it’s only P6M, says GM
“Hindi kailangang may magdikta sa akin. Sinasabi nya (Balutan) na friend ko si Atong Ang, true. Hindi ko naman pwedeng i-deny si Atong kasi he’s a friend since Erap’s (former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada) time,” Cam said.
(I need no one to dictate me. He is sayng I’m friend with Atong Ang, true. I cannot deny Atong because he’s a friend since Erap’s time.)
“At wala akong negosyo sa kanya. At bakit mainit ang ulo nya kay Atong na wala namang laro si Atong sa PCSO, hindi naman sya involved sa STL (Small Time Lottery),” she added.
(And I don’t have business with him. Why is he so hot headed with Atong who does not have any game with PCSO, he is not event involved with STL.)
Cam confirmed she met with Ang but that was upon the instruction of President Rodrigo Duterte, and it was done so Ang could help PCSO.
“Pinasamahan sa akin ni Sec. Bong Go si Atong and upon instruction of the President, na baka makatulong ito sa kanilang problema sa misdeclaration. We’re talking about misdeclaration not STL,” she said.
(Sec. Bong Go asked me to accompany Atong upon the instructions of the President because he might provide help in the government’s problem in misdeclaration.)
“Sabi nya (Ang) lang he’s willing to help, bantayan nyo ang misdeclaration ng operators,” she added.
(He said he is willing to help, watch over the misdeclaration of operators.)
Balutan earlier said he was open to an investigation on the alleged “lucrative” spending the agency made for its Christmas party. /jpv
READ: Balutan to resign if Cam becomes PCSO chair