Faces of the News: Alexander Balutan

Illustration by Rene Elevera

The general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office has been enjoying some peace until “jueteng” whistle-blower Sandra Cam came to sit on its board.

Facing the press on her second day in office, Cam vowed to stamp out corruption in the agency, a statement that riled her boss.

Alexander Balutan, a former Philippine Marine general, reminded her that he handles operations, including cleaning up the agency, while she is in charge of policy.

It didn’t stop there. Cam next raised a howl over the agency’s alleged lavish Christmas party at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel.

“We could have held the Christmas party in the office,” she said. “But shelling out P10 million in a five-star hotel?”

Balutan said the Department of Budget and Management approved the original P14-million budget for the party, but he decided to lower it to P6 million.

This is a continuing drama that is sure to generate even more interest in the new year.