MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte is set to identify at least 10 Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) officials who were allegedly involved in corruption.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo on Thursday said Duterte mentioned it during the Joint 69th National Security Council and 70th National Intelligence Coordinating Agency founding anniversary.
“Iyon lang ang sinabi niya. He didn’t elaborate on that. So let’s just wait for the announcement of the President,” Panelo said.
Duterte last week suspended the gaming operations of the PCSO after he was briefed by the newly appointed PCSO general manager Royina Garma about the alleged massive corruption in the agency.
Following the order, the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines around the country ensured that all Lotto outlets were closed.
Duterte earlier this week allowed the resumption of lotto operations after investigators found no anomalies and regulatory rules have been followed.
However, other PCSO-managed franchises, licenses or permits such as the Small Town Lottery, Keno, and Peryahan ng Bayan remain suspended pending the investigation of illegal activities and corrupt practices.
PCSO is a government-owned and controlled corporation under the Office of the President tasked to raise and provide funds for health programs./PN
