Bishops linked to alleged PCSO scam identified

THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) named a priest and several Catholic bishops who were given sports utility vehicles (SUVs) that the agency charged to its charity fund.

Because of the new controversy hounding the agency, the Senate Blue Ribbon committee will investigate the alleged misuse of billions of PCSO funds during the Arroyo administration and other recently uncovered anomalies.

PCSO director lawyer Aleta Tolentino distributed to newsmen copies of resolutions approving the grant of vehicles for the diocese of Butuan, North Cotabato, Sorsogon and Iligan City.

In a series of resolutions in 2009, the former PCSO board approved the grant of two SUVs to Butuan City Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos, one each for Rev. Orlando Quevedo of Cotabato, Monsignor Augusto Laban of Sorsogon and Father Roger Lood of the parish of Iligan City.

The request of Father Lood was coursed through Archbishop Fernando Capalla of Davao, who endorsed the letter to then president Gloria Arroyo on May 29, 2009.

The two SUVs of Pueblos costing to P1.7 million each were contained in Board Resolution 328 dated March 12, 2009 and Board Resolution 783 of June 5, 2009.

The board said PCSO approved the grant of two vehicles as service to the diocese of Butuan for its various community programs in Caraga, especially the poor in far-flung areas in need of medical and health services.

Tolentino said the Commission on Audit (COA) cited in a report that the grant of the five vehicles amounting to P6.940 million violates the constitutional provision that “no public money or property shall be appropriated, applied or employed directly or indirectly, for the use of, benefit or support to any sect, church, denomination… except when such priest, preacher or dignitary is assigned to the Armed Forces or to any penal institution, or government orphanage or leprosarium.”

Report from Philippine Star