PACC targets to finish lifestyle check on PCSO execs in 2-3 months

The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission is eyeing to conclude its ongoing lifestyle check on at least "13 to 20" officials of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office in two to three months amid the alleged massive corruption in the agency.

"In two to three months tapos na namin ang aming investigation, evaluation at pasasgutin na rin namin sila. The report will be submitted to the President for recommendation, tapos po this will be submitted to Office of the Ombudsman for criminal aspect of the case," PACC Commissioner Greco Belgica said in an interview on  Super Radyo dzBB on Saturday.

"We will begin with at least 13 to 20 officials na identified po namin, meron po kaming intelligence reports na nakalap," Belgica added.

While the PACC official did not identify the PCSO officials under investigation, he said they are current and former officials who held positions that have "discretion kung sino ang bibigyan ng franchise at kung magkano ang tatanggapin."

To recall, Belgica said President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-corruption unit is set to conduct a lifestyle check on former PCSO General Manager,  PCSO chairman Anselmo Simeon Pinili, and the board of directors.

"I initiated this lifestyle check dahil after magsalita ang ating Pangulo na he's shutting down all PCSO operations for massive corruption so napapanahon lang na tingnan natin 'yung mga tao na involved doon baka yumaman na po 'yan more than their salaries, unjustified na 'yung kanilang mga kayamanan.

"Maraming reports na hindi nare-remit 'yung tamang dapat naibibigay sa gobyerno... so nalulugi ang gobyerno," said Belgica, noting that the controversial Small Town Lottery (STL) is being used as a front for the jueteng, an illegal numbers game.

On July 26, Duterte ordered 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 last 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. —Ted Cordero/LBG, GMA News