Palace to verify allegations PCSO spent P10M for Christmas party
December 21, 2017 | 11:00am
In this June 27, 2017 photo, President Rodrigo Duterte gestures while addressing Filipino Muslim leaders during a reception at the Presidential Palace to celebrate the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan known as Eid al-Fitr in Manila, Philippines. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said he would talk to PCSO officials to verify the costs of the party. AP/Bullit Marquez
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte would look into the allegation that the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, the agency that provides assistance to the poor, had spent millions for a Christmas party, Malacañang said Thursday.
PCSO board member and former jueteng whistleblower Sandra Cam has claimed that her agency spent P10 million for a lavish Christmas party at a five-star hotel. Cam, who did not attend the party as a sign of “protest,” said it was held last Tuesday at the Edsa Shangri-La’s Isla Ballroom.
PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan denied that the party was extravagant and clarified that the budget for the event was just P6 million. He claimed that the 1,580 PCSO employees deserved the party because they worked hard to increase the earnings of the agency.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said he would talk to PCSO officials to verify the costs of the party.
“Remember PCSO is nationwide. So we’ll have to verify because the information just came out yesterday, if I’m not mistaken ‘no. I will formally communicate with both the general manager and Director Sandra Cam,” Roque said in a press briefing.
“I think you know that the president does not tolerate extravagance. So we do not know yet. I’m sure the president will look into the matter,” he added.
Asked whether he thinks a Christmas party that costs P6 million is extravagant, Roque replied: “We don’t know… we do not know how big that party was considering that PCSO is a nationwide organization.”
“He’s (Duterte) very sensitive to what is reported by his own people in the different branches of government,”
Pressed whether the president has a directive about Cam’s claim, Roque said: “Let’s just say that with or without an order, the president takes heed.”
Duterte has repeatedly reminded government personnel to use state funds prudently, saying he would not hesitate anyone involved in corruption and other wrongdoings.
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