Militant solon calls for probe on PCSO controversies

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate INQUIRER.net file photo

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate on Wednesday urged Congress to investigate the controversies hounding the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

“From the extravagant Christmas party celebration to the irregularities and alleged corruption in the small town lotteries operations and the miniscule allotment of only P2.2B for the charity funds out of its P18 billion earnings—these issues are certainly not minor and should all instead be investigated,” Zarate said in a statement.

“While these PCSO officers and executives are fighting for their respective turfs, the indigents whom they are supposed to fully serve are suffering,” he added.

Earlier, jueteng whistle-blower and recently-appointed PCSO board member Sandra Cam had exposed the “very grandiose” P10-million worth Christmas party of the agency in a five-star hotel.

READ: Cam hits P10-M Christmas party of PCSO; it’s only P6M, says GM

But PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan defended the celebration, saying it was only P6 million and that it was “very austere” compared to their previous Christmas celebrations.

READ: Balutan to resign if Cam becomes PCSO chair

The agency was also criticized for having a small allotment for charity funds.

“Based on the PCSO Charter, 30% of its earnings should be earmarked for charity funds. If the reported earnings is P18 billion, then the supposed allotment for charity funds should be P5.4 billion,” the Davao-based solon said.

“Now where did the money go? The PCSO’s mandate is supposed to be for charity, but, it appears that, then and now, it is just being used as a milking cow of its officials,” he added. /jpv