PCSO welcomes SUV funds' return

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) yesterday welcomed the announcement of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) that the funds granted to various dioceses for the purchase of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) would be returned.

“There is nothing wrong if the CBCP returns the money,” PCSO director Aleta Tolentino said.

Once the PCSO receives the money from the CBCP, Tolentino said it would be returned to the agency’s charity funds where a report would be made to the Commission on Audit (COA).

“The money will be (returned) back to the charity fund and will be reported to COA in response to their observation,” she said.

The CBCP made the decision during a meeting late Friday, several hours after the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, which is investigating anomalies in the PCSO, formally invited the seven bishops who received the PCSO funds to appear in the hearing, tentatively set on Wednesday.

The seven bishops are expected to justify receiving the cash for the vehicles from the Arroyo administration through PCSO. Several bishops have said the vehicles, not all of which are SUVs, are being used for Church activities.

The earlier PCSO board approved the resolutions granting the fund to some members of the clergy for the purchase of vehicles that would be used for medical and basic services.

The request for the grant of service vehicles in 2009 was coursed through former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and then forwarded to the PCSO board for action.

The PCSO usually buys the vehicles but the previous board had approved the release of funds to allow the recipients to buy the vehicles.

Tolentino said the past PCSO administration issued checks directly to parishes amounting to more than P6 million.

Tolentino argued the mandate of the PCSO is specific on the medical needs of the poor, not to purchase vehicles.

“The PCSO can provide ambulances but not SUVs as service for religious activities,” she said.

It was revealed during the Senate committee investigation last Tuesday that the PCSO released P1.704 million for the Diocese of Butuan and P1.54 million for the Zamboanga Archdiocesan Social Action Apostolate on July 9, 2009; P1.44 million released on Feb. 24, 2009 for the Archdiocese of Cotabato; P1.129 million on Jan. 16, 2009 for the Diocese of Bangued, Abra; and P1.125 million on July 2, 2009 for the Catholic prelate of Isabela, Basilan.

On April 30, 2007, the Apostolic Vicariate Bontoc received P600,000, while the Caritas Nueva Segovia-Ilocos Sur received P720,000 on March 17, 2010.

Tolentino hopes the decision of the CBCP to return the money would satisfy the COA report which said the grant of vehicles to the members of the clergy violates the constitutional provision on the separation of Church and State.

Malacañang, on the other hand, gave assurance the government would continue its partnership with the Catholic Church in charity work but would not stand in the way of the investigation into the PCSO fund mess involving some members of the clergy.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte also said Malacañang would not comment on the announcement of the CBCP to return the money to PCSO.

“We can’t comment on that yet since we normally don’t comment on unverified reports but we’ll have to wait until the CBCP comes up with an official position on this particular matter,” Valte said over state-run dzRB radio.

Valte said the bishops had offered their explanations individually but the “CBCP as an institution does not yet have an official position on this.”

She also said the issue should not affect the partnership between the government and the Catholic Church in giving assistance to the needy.

“I think the Church and the government are partners in helping our people, it’s not in question. We recognize that but as to the return of the vehicles, remember at this point there is still an ongoing determination on what the vehicles were used for,” Valte said.

Valte called on the people to “stick to issues” for the sake of national interest and “let’s not dwell on personalities.” - With Aurea Calica