Another retired general to replace PCSO chairman

MANILA, Philippines — Another retired military general is expected to fill the vacancy created by the resignation last week of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) chairman, retired police general Jose Jorge Corpuz.

This was revealed by PCSO general manager Alexander Balutan to employees of the agency in a flag retreat ceremony last Friday.

Sources told The STAR that Balutan, in a speech before the employees, said the likely appointee was his classmate at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Class of 1983.

Corpuz is also an alumnus of PMA, Class of 1982.

Florante Solmerin, PCSO deputy spokesman, confirmed the revelation made by Balutan.

“He told the employees that he had raised with Malacañang that there should be no vacuum at the PCSO,” Solmerin told The STAR in a phone interview.

The appointment is needed “because the PCSO has so much to do this year,” Solmerin said.

Solmerin brushed off rumors that a group of retired military personnel in the PCSO was lobbying to block jueteng (illegal numbers game) whistleblower and recently appointed board of directors member Sandra Cam from taking the place of Corpuz.

“They are not lobbying for any person,” Solmerin said.

“(GM Balutan) only said there should be no vacuum. The President has to appoint a chairman. Whoever that is, it’s the decision of the President,” Solmerin said.

Cam, in an interview at the PCSO also last Friday, said she had a meeting with the President tomorrow, a day before the Senate committee on games and amusement hearing where the alleged grandiose Christmas party of the PCSO last Dec. 19 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel will be discussed.

Cam denied lobbying for the PCSO chairmanship.

“I can stay as director. Whatever the President orders, I’ll follow. Whatever the President wants, I’ll follow,” Cam said. “I’m happy to serve the President and help him.”

Cam stressed that she was just doing her job when she came up with exposes on the P10.8-million budget for the PCSO Christmas party and the alleged anomaly in the small town lottery (STL) program whose revenues were supposedly under-declared by as much as 70 percent by authorized agent corporations (AACs).

Cam claimed that the AACs were owned or controlled by jueteng lords.

“What I want is just for (Balutan and Corpuz) to tell the truth,” Cam said.

She added that STL operators must declare their actual collections and give the PCSO its rightful share of the revenues.

Cam alleged that the involvement of jueteng lords in STL caused low gaming revenues.