VACC weighs in on PCSO bidding row

MANILA, Philippines — “Resignation is not an option. At best, it is abandonment of sworn duties.”

Arsenio “Boy” Evangelista, president of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), was reacting to the resignation of five members of the special bids and awards committee (SBAC) of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in protest of the PCSO board’s move to favor a bidder for the multibillion-peso lottery service contract.

The SBAC earlier ruled the bidder as “passed” but reversed itself and ruled the bidder, reputedly one of the biggest gaming companies in China, as “disqualified.”

The issue was elevated to the PCSO board which, voting 3 to 1, overturned the SBAC decision. This prompted the resignations, which the VACC strongly deplored.

Evangelista warned the SBAC members that they could be administratively held liable for neglect of duty.

“It (resignation) would potentially undermine the integrity and credibility of entire bidding structure of the government,” he said.