IN his speech in the previous assembly of the League of the Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) at the Manila Hotel, President Duterte reiterated that the so-called lavish Christmas Party for the employees of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) is not an issue to him. Duterte has once dismissed the issue when he delivered a speech in the launching of his “Malasakit” program in February at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.
The PCSO is included in the Malasakit program.
In his speech, Duterte praised PCSO General Manager Alexander F. Balutan, and asked him to stand to be recognized. During the LMP assembly, Duterte was apparently irked.
Before the mayors, this is his blunt question to Sandra Cam: “Sandra Cam…. Can you handle Balutan?” Deafening silence is not what arose afterward but laughter, howling and applause. Present in the assembly were Balutan and Cam, together with PCSO Chairman Anselmo Simeon Pinili.
Duterte no longer jests. Cam was appointed by Duterte as a director of the PCSO in December 2017. Only after a few days, she has complained to the media about the allegedly grand Christmas party of the PCSO in which 2,580 employees and their families have attended, and accused Balutan and former Chairman Jose Jorge Corpuz of irregularities. The Palace clarified that Corpuz resigned due to his health, not because of the alleged irregularities.
At present, the Senate and Congress continue to hold hearings regarding the issues Cam raised against Balutan and PCSO. This eventually led to Cam going against several lawmakers, 48 of which signed the resolution imposing contempt against the said director and that she should resign as PCSO director.
According to the congressmen, Cam disrespected a few of them, particularly Rep. Arnulfo Teves Jr. of the Third District of Negros Oriental and Danilo E. Suarez of the Third District of Quezon. Cam said she was only defending herself.
In the public eye, it is not wise to involve the PCSO in such controversies given that its mandate is charity. To use the PCSO for one’s personal interest is disadvantageous to both the PCSO and its beneficiaries, especially if the allegations are false, not enough evidence can be presented and the intent is to injure an entity to satisfy one’s interests. These must cease. Instead, we should unite to make up for the PCSO’s shortcomings to fortify the agency as a charitable institution for the Filipino people.
In my perspective, as it was Duterte who challenged Cam, his statement may imply if Cam can topple the general manager. That is if the director has any evidence that can prove her allegation of irregularities against Balutan.
It is akin to Teves’s provocation that, if said director can present legal documents that state that he operates a small town lottery in Negros Oriental, he will abdicate himself as congressman. If not, Cam must resign as PCSO director.
In September Balutan will have been PCSO’s general manager for two consecutive years and Duterte’s trust in him remains steadfast. Duterte has dismissed a number of his appointees due to corruption. After the Holy Week, we will see who is next.
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4 comments
I agree Mr. Solmerin. I think this is the President’s way of telling Sandra Cam that if she cannot prove all her allegations, she might as well just shut up. She started December 2017 and until now, she’s just making noises that is bad for the image of PCSO as a charity organization. I think it is about time to stop Sandra Cam. All is well then you started all these issues. As a director, it is your job to help PCSO and it is the opposite of what you are doing now. If you cannot do your job, might as well shut up, or resign from your post.
Isang patunay lang malaki ang tiwala at naniniwala si Pangulong Duterte kay General Balutan…
Good job GM Balutan! You deserve all the trust PRRD has given you.
May napapatunayan si GM Balutan dahil sa tapat at pagbibigay nya ng serbisyong malasakit at kawanggawa sa ating mga mamamayan lalo na sa mga nangangailangan. Patunay lang na sya ay mapagkakatiwalaan at maaasahan di lang sya puro salita. More power GM!
Nice try.Ang sabihin mo alam ni Gen. Balutan ang lahat ng nag -ooperate na gumagamit ng STL as front. Di mo ba alam kong sino operator doon sa Mindanao? Iyong famous na Davao Group ang may control nito.Pag-tinanggal mo si Balutan posibling mabulgar lahat ang mga tinatago nila.At si CAM , dahil sa laki ng ulo ng tards na ito di niya muna inalam kong sino binangga niya.Buti nga sa kanya.