Efforts led by a notorious gambling lord and a jueteng bagwoman-turned-whistle-blower to paint a bad image for Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Alexander Balutan are doomed. Shamelessly, some media personalities are being used to vilify the former Marine general.
Balutan meritoriously earned his “Mandirigma” moniker in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) because of his exploits as commander of his troops in the battlefront.
A member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Matikas” Class of 1983, he retired as major general (two-star rank) from the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) without a single bad record.
In the media, he was known for exposing the celebrated case of the alleged 2004 presidential election fraud. Balutan defied his Commander-in-Chief not to testify in the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. The soft-spoken general cannot be cowed by any vilification campaign like what Sandra Cam’s lousy propaganda about a “lavish” Christmas celebration. President Duterte has spoken and dismissed Cam’s politically-laced bickering. “Wala sa akin ’yan,” Duterte said in his speech during the launching of the “Malasakit” program at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City recently.
The President went on praising and even thanking Balutan for leading PCSO’s operations and for always being ready to give aid to the poor, especially to victims of natural and man-made calamities. The President addressed the general “Sir” and requested him to stand up for the audience to recognize him.
The almost P53 billion revenue collection of PCSO in 2017 is a record high. It’s a fact. Out of the said amount, P15.7 billion came from the expanded Small Town Lottery (STL) from just P4.7 billion annual revenues from the two previous administrations.
“I’m not used to acoustics war where battles are lost and won in the media,” Balutan said.
Balutan said he was not born yesterday when it comes to adversarial media. He said he would never fall into the trap of the corrupt. He maintained his composure in facing the controversy and stood his ground with the truth.
Anyway, public opinion is on the side of Balutan.
FSSolmerin at fetad@yahoo.com.
4 comments
A big chunk of the 2017 revenues earned by PCSO came from Small Town Lottery (STL). It is not a wonder that GM Balutan and former Chairman Corpuz, with the full support of President Duterte, pushed through the campaign of expanding STL. STL earns a lot for PCSO, pays a lot of taxes and charities to the government, is legal, and is fighting illegal gambling in the country.
People should not let people without credibility and breeding like Atong Ang and Sandra Cam create mess in highly respected institutions like the PCSO and Senate. Ah yes, they already turned the Senate into a marketplace of dubious characters and I wonder why the respected committee involved allowed and is allowing this to happen. Let the PCSO return in peace. They were doing exceptionally good in their jobs until these people with their dirty self interests joined the story.
A big chunk of the 2017 revenues earned by PCSO came from Small Town Lottery (STL). It is not a wonder that GM Balutan and former Chairman Corpuz, with the full support of President Duterte, pushed through the campaign of expanding STL. STL earns a lot for PCSO, pays a lot of taxes and charities to the government, is legal, and is fighting illegal gambling in the country.
People should not let people without credibility and breeding like Atong Ang and Sandra Cam create mess in highly respected institutions like the PCSO and Senate. Ah yes, they already turned the Senate into a marketplace of dubious characters and I wonder why the respected committee involved allowed and is allowing this to happen. Let the PCSO return in peace. They were doing exceptionally good in their jobs until these people with their dirty self interests joined the story.