Malacañang yesterday urged the public to go to the Office of the President if they need assistance following the order of President Duterte last week to shut down all gaming operations sanctioned by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office for alleged massive corruption.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo assured the public that the government is still ready to assist those who are in need.
“Yung mga nangangailangan ng tulong eh, sumulat lang po kayo. We will just direct your request sa Pagcor (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.) at sa Office of the President. Makakaasa kayong ang pamahalaan ay nakahanda pa ring tumulong sa inyo,” he said.
According to Panelo, the government will also get money from Pagcor to fund health programs that were supposed to be funded by the PCSO. He said this can also be used to help Filipinos who are in need of medical assistance.
Panelo added that the President can also utilize his discretionary fund for medical assistance.
He said it might be better for the PCSO to stop its operations than allow the corruption looming in the agency to persist and let the government be at the losing end.
Panelo had earlier said that Duterte discovered a grand conspiracy among officials, stakeholders, major players, and enforcers of government-sanctioned gaming activities and enterprises to cheat the government of its rightful share.
He said this discovery led to Duterte’s decision to close down the gaming operations even if the PCSO is one of the offices people go to for assistance.
“Nakakatulong din. Pero kung ang pinagkukunan natin ay isang sangkot sa isang malawak na katiwalian and at the same time involved pa ‘yung mga inaasahan natin na dapat na pinagkakatiwalaan. Eh talagang kailangan siguro ipasarado na natin ‘yan,” Panelo said.
“Hindi ko alam kung permanente na yan but for now, talagang ipapasarado niya lahat,” he added.
According to Panelo, Duterte discovered that the government is losing 60 to 70 percent of its share from the PCSO because of corruption. “Siguro mga 60 to 70 percent ang nawawala sa gobyerno. Eh kung kikita na naman ‘yung mga scoundrels, para sa kanya bakit pa tayo magpapatupad ng ganitong proyekto?” he said.
Panelo added that it is up to Duterte to decide when he will allow the PCSO to operate again. “Sa ngayon napaka massive na corruption at ayaw niyang, ayaw na niyang ipagpatuloy,” he said. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)
