PRESIDENT Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. was perfectly right when he named former chief of the Light Railway Transit Authority Mel Robles to head the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
Under his stewardship, the PCSO has since introduced an online lottery platform, revamped jackpot systems and strengthened partnership to combat illegal gambling and its charity fund has seen increased support for health and social welfare program.
He’s a total opposite to his predecessor, Royina Garma, who has yet to account the alleged missing P90-billion PCSO money and was just held in contempt by the House Quad Committee for evading and refusing to answer questions about her close relationship with former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Despite having 10 years of service left, she announced her early retirement in June 2019, and by July 15, 2019, she began her new role at the PCSO.
House members have noted that, despite Garma’s denials, her close relationship with Duterte clearly influenced her rise to top positions in Davao City, Cebu City, and later at the PCSO.
During her tenure at the PCSO from 2019 to 2022, QuadComm chairman Dan Fernandez presented evidence indicating that the government lost P90-billion.
Garma attributed these losses to COVID-19 quarantine restrictions but it seems unlikely that the pandemic alone had caused such huge losses.
Fernandez said, more likely the explanation for the P90-billion loss is that the money could have been secretly diverted into private pockets.
For the members of the committee, the money was believed to have been used to fund the Duterte administration’s drug war which resulted in several extrajudicial killings.
Thanks to the previous QuadComm hearings that uncovered a reward and quota system for police officers, funded by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, small town lotteries and intelligence funds.
The QuadComm claimed that Garma’s sudden appointment to the PCSO and the unexplained P90-billion losses during her tenure could only mean that Duterte could be behind it all to fund his drug war.
The said QuadCOmm is committed to uncovering the full truth and ensuring that all those involved in the corruption are held accountable.
