Lawmaker demands public apology from PCSO chair
July 22, 2011
DASMARINAS City Representative Elpidio Barzaga is seeking a public apology from Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) chair Margie Juico after he was identified as one of those who received proceeds from small town lottery (STL) operations.
In a letter dated July 21, Barzaga said that if Juico fails to comply with his formal demand, he will file the appropriate charges against her in court.
“Through this letter, I am categorically stating that I have not received any money representing the alleged congressional share in the STL operations in the second district of Cavite covering the City of Trece Martires and Munipalities of Carmona, Dasmariñas, General Mariano Alvarez (GMA), General Trias, Imus and Tanza in the 14th Congress and neither in my capacity as congressman of the lone district of Dasmariñas in the 15th Congress,” the lawmaker stated.
Barzaga demanded Juico to make a public statement to clarify that he is not one of the STL beneficiaries from the time that he was elected congressman in 2007 up to the present.
“I am constrained to make this formal demand not only to set the record straight but also because I anticipate that my constituents…would be making formal inquiries on how much I received and how I spent said share. Failure on your part to comply with this formal demand shall leave me with no other alternative except to file appropriate cases against you,” he added.
Letters with the same content were also sent to PCSO board members Mabel Mamba, Betty Nantes, Aleta Tolentino, Francisco Joaquin III; Board Secretary VI Eduardo Araullo; and General Manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas II.
Barzaga, together with 53 other members of the 14th Congress, was identified in a report of a daily newspaper having received his share from STL sales from 2007 to 2010.
PCSO board member Tolentino earlier disclosed in a Senate hearing that congressmen in districts where there are STL operations have been receiving a 2.25 percent share of the game’s revenue since 2006.
House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman, for his part, admitted receiving a check a few years back as his share in STL operations in his district in Albay but denied soliciting for such money.
“I did not solicit, ask or demand any cash or check from the PCSO or any operator in connection with the STL operation in the first district of Albay,” Lagman said in a press statement.
“I recall having received in 2008 or 2009 a check or not more than two checks of small amounts purportedly pursuant to PCSO Board Resolution 323, Series of 2008, granting 2.5 percent of charity fund (30 percent of net sales) to congressional districts. I have not encashed the check and I do not recall having deposited it,” he added.
Earlier, Representative Joseph Emilio Abaya admitted receiving a check worth P5,000 for his share in STL operations in Cavite, but said that he did encash the check.
With the exposés made in the recent investigation conducted by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, the House leadership had said that it is open to an investigation concerning the alleged misuse of PCSO funds if only to clear the names of congressmen involved in the controversy.
Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tanada III (Quezon) supported the separate House probe while he denied receiving any proceeds from STL.
He called it “unfair” that congressmen identified with districts where STL operates are automatically presumed to have received proceeds even without proof of receipt.
“If that is the basis, then I think that is unfair. As STL is actually a legal operation, there should be a paper trail to determine who actually received an STL share. I earnestly seek to have my name cleared from this controversy,” Tanada said. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/07/21/lawmaker-demands-public-apology-pcso-chair-168229
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