Gov’t has no intention to abolish PCSO – Palace

The government has no in­tention of abolishing the Philip­pine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) for now as it is focused on putting a stop to the corruption in the agency, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential spokesman Salva­dor Panelo said President Duterte would ‘in due time” identify those involved in the alleged irregu­larities in the PCSO as well as lay down the “mechanism” to ensure a corruption-free system.

“We’re not talking of closure of this agency, we’re talking of stop­ping massive corruption,” Panelo said during a Palace press brief­ing. “He did not abolish PCSO, he ordered the closure of their out­lets,” he added.

Asked if the President has no plans to abolish PCSO, Panelo said: “Obviously sa ngayon, wala.”

The Palace however did not rule out the dismantling of the corrup­tion-tainted charity arm of the gov­ernment.

“Kung meron man, madali na gawan ng paraan ‘yun,” Panelo said.

“Whether it will entail or not, it will be done in a constitutional way,” he said when asked if the President needs congressional concurrence if he intends to abolish the PCSO.

The President recently ordered the closure of all gaming activi­ties by the PCSO, including Lotto, Small Town Lottery, and Peryahan ng Bayan, due to alleged “mas­sive corruption.” Duterte said he would also “not honor” any court order stopping from carrying out its anti-corruption crackdown in the agency.

Panelo has assured that a thor­ough investigation into the alleged conspiracy involving major players in the gaming activities is under­way.

“We will have to wait for the President. He is thoroughly inves­tigating the corruption and he will, as he said, in due time name them. He doesn’t want to commit a mis­take,” he said.

“Ang mahalaga iyong katiwalian na naganap eh maihinto. Kailan­gan kung minsan mayroon tayong sakripisyong ibibigay para sa kabuti­han ng pangkalahatan,” he added.

Panelo also defended the legality of the President’s order, saying the Chief Executive has the control and supervision over the PCSO.

“It’s legal. So if it is legal, you don’t have to put down in writ­ing,” he said about Duterte’s verbal order on the shutdown of PCSO games.

The PCSO, mandated to raise funds for health programs, medi­cal aid and other charities through sweepstakes games, lotteries and other similar activities, is a govern­ment corporation attached to the Office of the President.­ (Genalyn Kabiling)