Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima today called for a Senate investigation into the internal squabbles among officials of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to shield it against private vested interests and sinister machinations by some quarters.
In filing Senate Resolution (SR) No. 578 yesterday, De Lima underscored the importance of safeguarding PCSO’s mandate and shielding its operations from improper influence and interference from personalities with vested interests.
“PCSO is a government-owned and controlled corporation tasked to raise money and provide funds for health programs, medical assistance and services, and charities of national character for the underprivileged. [Its] image should not be tarnished and its operations affected by the internal politics of the high-ranking personalities in the agency,” she said.
De Lima noted the internal squabble at the PCSO came after PCSO new board member and former jueteng whistleblower Sandra Cam questioned the agency’s alleged lavish Christmas party last year with purported budget of P9.8 million.
Based on reports, however, PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan said the approximately P10-million budget cited by Cam was not entirely spent by the agency. He explained PCSO only spent P6 million to finance the venue, food and the raffle and performance prizes for employees during the agency’s Christmas party.
