Margie Juico denies she resigned from PCSO because of Mar Roxas

Margarita Juico, a close friend of President Benigno Aquino III's family, on Friday belied reports that a quarrel with Interior Secretary Mar Roxas prompted her to resign from her post as head of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

According to a report on "24 Oras" aired Friday evening, Juico had been planning to resign for some time. 

But according to media reports, Aquino had promised Juico's position to former Cavite representative Erineo “Ayong” Maliksi, a member of the administration Liberal Party who ran but lost in the 2013 gubernatorial race.

"Sa akin, siguro, that was, I thought, the last straw," Juico said.

"I'm not in the habit of forcing people to accept me or forcing my way on people," she also said.

Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. , however, would neither confirm nor deny Maliksi's reported entry into the PCSO.

“Mas mainam sigurong hintayin na lang natin kung mayroong gagawing pahayag hinggil sa magiging kapalit ni Ginang Juico,” he said at a press briefing on Friday.



In an interview on ANC, Juico said it was her desire to rest and be with her family that convinced her to leave the agency.

“It's about time I retire and rest and spend time with my family,” the 65-year-old Juico said.

She, however, admitted to having a misunderstanding with Roxas over some documents that he was asking from her, although she quickly added that they were able to patch this up.

“We came to an understanding that next time, office protocol would be observed,” Juico said.

Malacañang also said Juico's resignation has nothing to do with Roxas.

“Hindi po totoo 'yan," Coloma said, referring to a report in the Manila Times newspaper.

He said Juico and Aquino still maintain a good relationship.

“Sa aking palagay ay mainam naman ang kanilang pakikipag-ugnayan sa isa’t isa,” Coloma said.

Golf course incident

According to the Manila Times report, a group associated with Roxas had been "coveting" Juico's post.

The report claimed that President Aquino, who is a close friend and political ally of Roxas, had even scolded Juico after Roxas complained she was withholding certain documents his department needed from PCSO.

The news report also said Aquino may have been “displeased” because Juico's husband Philip, as Wack Wack Golf and Country Club president, did nothing to prevent Roxas from being suspended from one of Manila's most prestigious golf courses following an altercation with its employees. 

Juico said in the "24 Oras" report that Aquino had scolded her in the past, but over a different matter. She said she was scolded over a misunderstanding with the DILG over documents that Roxas needed from her office.

"I received a memo from the President that said the Cabinet secretaries are his alter ego, any request from the Cabinet secretary should be attended," she said.  —Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK/JDS, GMA News