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Palace confirms resignation of PCSO chief Margarita Juico
(Updated 10:34 a.m.) Malacañang on Friday confirmed the resignation of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office chairperson Margarita Juico, a long-time friend of the Aquino family.
In a statement, Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said Juico's resignation will take effect upon formal written acceptance by President Benigno Aquino III.
However, a source from Juico's office told GMA News Online they have yet to be formally informed about her resignation, which comes on the heels of controversies including alleged lottery rigging and unauthorized allowances for officers of the agency.
"President Aquino thanks outgoing PCSO Chairperson Margarita Juico for her dedicated service to the government and the Filipino people. As an esteemed family friend, President Aquino wishes her well on her decision to end her stint in public service," Coloma said.
Juico had served the administration of the late President Corazon "Cory" Aquino, the mother of President Aquino, and then went on to serve in the PCSO board in succeeding administrations.
A trusted aide of President Cory, Juico has headed the PCSO since 2010.
PCSO's credibility
The agency has been rocked by several controversies through the years.
Last April, PCSO's credibility was questioned due to alleged rigging of the result of the 6/55 Grand Lotto draw.
A photo posted on Filipino Patriotism's Facebook page last month showed that nobody won the P249.8 million jackpot, while two – and not 25 – snagged the P169,410 pot for the five-digit lotto draw. The PCSO earlier said a bettor from Muntinlupa City who placed her bet in Makati City won the jackpot.
Juico quickly answered the allegations, saying two service providers — Pacific Online and Philippine Gaming Management Corporation — are serving over 6,000 PCSO outlets nationwide and provide a rundown of the results after the draw.
She said the paper in the photo was an “internal document” in the PCSO, and that investigation is ongoing to determine who released it. For his part, PCSO general manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas II said the zero winner indicated in the document refers to Visayas and Mindanao.
Meanwhile, in February last year, the Commission on Audit questioned P10-million in alleged unauthorized salaries and allowances of the PSCO in 2011, and ordered the board of directors to reimburse the amount.
Before Juico was appointed as head of PCSO, the agency had been questioned about improper donations made outside its mandate to provide assistance for public services.
In 2011, Juico had to appear at a Senate blue ribbon committee hearing to testify about the vehicles given to some Catholic bishops during the previous administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Juico identified three bishops who had received the vehicles – including a Mitsubishi Montero Sport worth P1.7 million – which were purchased using PCSO funds.
In a statement, Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said Juico's resignation will take effect upon formal written acceptance by President Benigno Aquino III.
However, a source from Juico's office told GMA News Online they have yet to be formally informed about her resignation, which comes on the heels of controversies including alleged lottery rigging and unauthorized allowances for officers of the agency.
"President Aquino thanks outgoing PCSO Chairperson Margarita Juico for her dedicated service to the government and the Filipino people. As an esteemed family friend, President Aquino wishes her well on her decision to end her stint in public service," Coloma said.
He said Juico is leaving the government for "personal reasons" and did not elaborate.
On whether the President asked Juico to step down, the palace official told GMA News Online that he is "not privy to any discussion between them."
A trusted aide of President Cory, Juico has headed the PCSO since 2010.
PCSO's credibility
The agency has been rocked by several controversies through the years.
Last April, PCSO's credibility was questioned due to alleged rigging of the result of the 6/55 Grand Lotto draw.
A photo posted on Filipino Patriotism's Facebook page last month showed that nobody won the P249.8 million jackpot, while two – and not 25 – snagged the P169,410 pot for the five-digit lotto draw. The PCSO earlier said a bettor from Muntinlupa City who placed her bet in Makati City won the jackpot.
Juico quickly answered the allegations, saying two service providers — Pacific Online and Philippine Gaming Management Corporation — are serving over 6,000 PCSO outlets nationwide and provide a rundown of the results after the draw.
She said the paper in the photo was an “internal document” in the PCSO, and that investigation is ongoing to determine who released it. For his part, PCSO general manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas II said the zero winner indicated in the document refers to Visayas and Mindanao.
Meanwhile, in February last year, the Commission on Audit questioned P10-million in alleged unauthorized salaries and allowances of the PSCO in 2011, and ordered the board of directors to reimburse the amount.
Before Juico was appointed as head of PCSO, the agency had been questioned about improper donations made outside its mandate to provide assistance for public services.
In 2011, Juico had to appear at a Senate blue ribbon committee hearing to testify about the vehicles given to some Catholic bishops during the previous administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Juico identified three bishops who had received the vehicles – including a Mitsubishi Montero Sport worth P1.7 million – which were purchased using PCSO funds.
Not the first
Juico is not the first Aquino appointee to resign.
In December last year, Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang stepped down from his post after saying he believes he has done his job.
Other officials who have left include Local Water Utilities Administration acting chairman Rene Villa and National Bureau of Investigation director Nonnatus Rojas. Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon and his deputy commissioner Danilo Lim also resigned after they were tagged in various controversies.
President National Irrigation Administration head Antonio Nangel left the Aquino administration for supposedly failing to meet his agency's targets.
But the President rejected the resignation of Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla, who offered to vacate his post after failing to reach his target of restoring power in all towns devastated by Typhoon Yolanda by Christmas Eve last year. — Kimberly Jane T. Tan with a report from Amanda Fernandez/LBG/RSJ/YA, GMA News
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