Bayan Muna solon urges Congress probe into alleged PCSO irregularities

Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate on Tuesday called on Congress to investigate alleged irregularities at the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

Zarate made the call after newly-appointed PCSO board of directors member Sandra Cam revealed that the agency spent P10 million for its Christmas party held at a five-star hotel in Mandaluyong City.

The progressive lawmaker said the issues hounding the office cannot be simply dismissed and should all be investigated.

Aside from the supposedly lavish Christmas party, Congress should also look into the supposed irregularities and alleged corruption in the small town lottery operations and the allotment of only P2.2 billion for charity funds out of the office's P18-billion earnings.

"While these PCSO officers and executives are fighting for their respective turfs, the indigents whom they are supposed to fully serve are suffering," Zarate said.

Zarate was referring to Cam, PCSO Chairman Jose Jorge Corpuz and General Manager Alexander Balutan.

Cam had claimed that Balutan was behind the lavish Christmas party. Balutan had denied the claim, saying that only P6 million was spent for the party.

Zarate pointed out that pursuant to the PCSO charter, 30 percent of its earnings should be allotted to charity funds.

He said that if the PCSO had reportedly earned P18 billion, the allotment for charity should have been P5.4 billion.

"Now where did the money go? The PCSO's mandate is supposed to be for charity, but it appears that, then and now, it is just being used as a milking cow of its officials," he said.

Corpuz had said he is open to any investigation on the controversial Christmas party. He insisted that the party was "well-deserved" for the "hard work" of the agency's employees. —ALG, GMA News