Ex-PCSO officials face raps over P42-B paper deal

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office has recommended the filing of appropriate charges against former officials who approved a 50-year joint venture agreement worth P42 billion with a foreign firm to establish a thermal coating plant for the production and distribution of thermal coated paper for the PCSO’s lotto tickets.

In a resolution dated May 25, PCSO chair Margarita Juico approved the filing of cases against former vice chair and general manager Rosario Uriarte and board members Manoling Morato, Jose Taruc, Maria Fatima Valdes and Raymundo Roquero.

The resolution said the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) reviewed the agreement with Australia-based TMA Group of Companies and declared null and void “because it was undertaken to circumvent Republic Act 9184 in the procurement of supplies and evaded the Commission on Audit.” The new PCSO board revoked the deal.

The thermal paper supply contract was the subject of a privilege speech by Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, who exposed alleged anomalies in the PCSO during the previous administration.

Roquero, however, denied the allegations, saying the deal went through technical evaluation by the National Economic and Development Authority and the OGCC.