PACC to conduct lifestyle check on ex-PCSO general manager Balutan, current officials

President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-corruption unit is set to conduct a lifestyle check on former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Alexander Balutan and the current officials of the agency.

Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) Commissioner Greco Belgica said on Wednesday that the lifestyle check on Balutan, PCSO chairman Anselmo Simeon Pinili, and the board of directors stemmed from Duterte’s closure order on PCSO gaming operations due to alleged massive corruption. 

“We will be conducting a lifestyle check against all of them after the pronouncement of the President that he is closing down PCSO operations for massive corruption. [This is] on top of the cases that is already pending before us,” Belgica said in a message to reporters.

Balutan resigned on March 9 due to corruption allegations. Malacañang then referred to the Office of Ombudsman Balutan's request for a full-blown investigation into allegations against him.

Duterte ordered last Friday the closure of the operations of PCSO’s betting schemes as he ordered an investigation on the alleged corruption within the PCSO.

Operations of the more popular lotto was lifted on Tuesday after the Palace found no anomalies and said regulations have been followed.

The National Bureau of Investigation is also conducting a probe and a case buildup on alleged graft and corrupt practices inside the PCSO and its various gaming operations. — MDM, GMA News