Malacañang has told Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office board director Sandra Cam to file a complaint regarding corruption in the agency or just resign instead of telling President Duterte to relieve her from her post.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo made the statement after the former whistleblower questioned the internal decision-making process of the PCSO.
Panelo urged Cam to formally submit a complaint to the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission, which is directly under the Office of the President, so that it would be acted on accordingly.
“She could file corruption charges against the PCSO officials and submit proof of her allegations before the said commission,” he said. “The President will order a full-blown investigation on those allegations of corruption as soon as formal charges are filed,” he added.
Panelo reiterated that Duterte will not spare anyone who is found to be involved in corruption in government even if they are close allies or friends of the Chief Executive.
“President Duterte is beholden to no one. He will not spare even his close friends and long-time allies in his drive to weed out corruption in the bureaucracy,” he said. “We repeat: There are no sacred cows in this administration,” he added.
The Palace official assured that Duterte will listen to whatever other whistleblowers may have to say that will bring clarity to the allegations. “We thus urge the likes of Ms. Cam to come forward and expose government shenanigans and malfeasance if she knows any. We assure her and other whistleblowers that they have PRRD’s ears in this regard,” Panelo said.
He, however, advised Cam that if she really cannot stand the alleged corruption in the PCSO, she should just resign instead of asking the President to sack her.
“She does not have to wait for her relief by the President. She can tender her resignation if she cannot stand the alleged corruption within the PCSO,” Panelo said.
Cam’s appeal came two months after former PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan resigned from his post “out of delicadeza” amid the “serious” allegations against him. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)
