Retired police general Anselmo Simeon Patrol Pinili. Photos from the PCSO
President Duterte has appointed retired police official Anselmo Simeon Patrol Pinili to serve the unexpired term of former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Chair Jose Jorge Corpuz, who recently resigned for health reasons.
“I’m proud to say that General Pinili is my mistah (classmate) at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Matikas” Class 1983. The PCSO family welcomes his appointment,” PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan said on Thursday.
Pinili headed the Office of the Special Envoy on Transnational Crime of the Philippine National Police. He also initiated peace talks between local communist rebels in some Davao municipalities during his stint as PNP deputy regional director for administration.
‘Harmonious relationship’
“Expect a harmonious relationship (between) me and Pinili. It would be like working with Jorge,” Balutan said, referring to Corpuz, a member of PMA “Sandigan” Class 1982.
Corpuz left PCSO amid a controversy surrounding its Christmas party that newly appointed director Sandra Cam had described as “extravagant.”
The public bickering between Cam and Balutan has prompted calls for a congressional inquiry into irregularities in the state lottery agency.
House inquiry
Seven lawmakers belonging to the opposition Makabayan bloc filed on Thursday House Resolution No. 1599 urging the House good government committee to look into the matter.
The lawmakers would also like to investigate allegations that the agency allotted P2 billion for the charity fund, out of the P18 billion revenues from small-town lottery (STL); and claims that STL operators declare only 15 to 20 percent of their actual revenues, with 80 percent of these revenues used to pay off top PCSO officials.
Balutan claimed that Cam “dropped President Duterte’s name” when she and alleged gambling operator Charlie “Atong” Ang visited the PCSO in 2016 “to lobby that Ang be allowed to operate STL nationwide.”