Speaker Nograles defends PCSO ambulance donation

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MANILA, Philippines—Former Speaker of the House Prospero Nograles expressed incredulity over the brouhaha brought about by allegations of misuse of funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), particularly the distribution of ambulances to select lawmen of the lower house.

In an interview on 990AM, Radyo Inquirer on Tuesday, Nograles said “there was no issue to be discussed” about the matter.

“Walang issue, anong issue dun?” [There was no issue, what’s the issue there?], Nograles said. He added that the best evidence was the written document between PCSO and the recipients of the said ambulances.
On Monday, President Benigno S. Aquino III said the government was building at least four cases against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, including the alleged misuse of the PCSO funds.

Mr. Aquino told reporters the cases involved “a broad spectrum of personalities” and that prosecutors would go “where the evidence points to us.”

The President did not give details of the cases other than the PCSO disbursements under the administration of Arroyo, now a Pampanga representative.

Nograles, for his part, said he kept a deed of donation of the two ambulances given by PCSO to Davao in 2007. “I was not the beneficiary. PCSO gave one ambulance to the Davao Medical Center and another one to the city government of Davao. It was indicated in the deed,” he claimed.

He said that there will be an issue if the deed of donation was between the Congressmen and the PCSO. “Congressmen were only facilitators of the donations which were to be used by the people,” he said.

President Aquino was asked by reporters on Monday about the reported use of PCSO funds to purchase ambulances and sports utility vehicles for certain lawmakers and Catholic bishops.

He said the Department of Justice would look into the case to see “if there is enough basis for prosecution” noting earlier findings of irregularities by the Commission on Audit.

“So there will be a formal investigation toward that and then we will go where the evidence points to us. Meaning, will there be a case here; is there something actionable; has the prescription cases expired on specific cases. All of that has to be determined,” Mr. Aquino said.