Maliksi no longer reporting to PCSO office ‘out of delicadeza’ 

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) chairman Erineo “Ayong” Maliksi is no longer reporting for work out of delicadeza, the agency’s general manager said Tuesday. 

At the presentation of the PCSO budget before members of the House committee on appropriations, panel chairman and Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles questioned the absence of Maliksi. 

Jose Ferdinand Rojas II explained that Maliksi, an appointee of President Benigno Aquino III, has already met with the chief of staff of the incoming PCSO chief. 

“Last week or two weeks ago, the chief of staff of a certain alleged appointee of the PCSO went to our office and talked with our chairman. He thought, for delicadeza, he won’t be going to the office,” Rojas said. 

Rojas, meanwhile, assured the lawmakers that the day-to-day operations of the PCSO will not be affected despite the absence of a chairman. 

“It’s only the policy making, the function of the board which will cease temporarily until such time that members of the board has been appointed by the President,” he said. 

On Monday, Duterte issued a memorandum circular ordering all appointees of former President Aquino to hand over their courtesy resignations within seven days. 

Duterte earlier said that he is “looking for a killer” to head the PCSO, a government agency he described as “corrupt.” 

“Itong Philippine Charity Sweepstakes [Office], it is a corrupt agency. ‘Yang mga pabingo-bingo na ‘yan, hawak nang ano — ‘yung lotto pati jueteng, ginanun nila — that is the racket,” Duterte earlier said. 

“And you would notice, I have never appointed anybody there. I am looking for a killer,” he said. — RSJ, GMA News