Senate summons ex-PCSO executives

Senate summons ex-PCSO executives
By Jill Beltran and Jonathan de Santos
Thursday, July 7, 2011
MANILA — The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Wednesday issued summons against former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) executives being charged with pocketing millions in government funds.
Invited to appear before the Senate among others is former general manager Rosario Uriarte, who allegedly took at least P315 million from PCSO coffers.
In Wednesday’s Senate hearing on the alleged irregularities in the agency, PCSO board member Maria Aleta Tolentino said Uriarte received “intelligence funds” for the PCSO in 2008 and 2009 amounting to P165 million.
Intelligence funds, as usually used by the police and military, are not subject to audit.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said the PCSO may have larger intelligence fund than the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Under the General Appropriations Act of 2011, the AFP has around P123.7 million for “confidential and intelligence operations.”
Uriarte also allegedly received another P150 million taken from the PCSO’s public relations budget, Tolentino said.
The committee also summoned former PCSO advertising manager Manuel Garcia, who has been accused of taking a 40-percent cut of all media projects of the PCSO.
He allegedly got around P1.5 billion in “kickbacks” from advertising placements and for the TV show “Pangarap kong Jackpot,” which depicted the lives of lottery and sweepstakes winners.
If Uriarte and Garcia fail to show up at the Senate hearing Thursday, the Blue Ribbon committee can order the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms to arrest them.
Also expected at the Thursday hearing are PCSO chairman Margarito Juico and general manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas II. The current board members of the PCSO have also been asked to attend.
Initially, the hearing was supposed to give the previous PCSO board, including former board member Manuel Morato, a chance to explain alleged irregularities at the office. Former PCSO chairman Sergio Valencia was also invited to come.
Senator Francis Escudero moved to have the present PCSO board attend again so that the committee can hear both sides of the issue.
‘PCSO giving away too much money’
Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Teofisto Guingona III said the PCSO is giving away too much money and not all of it goes to charity institutions.
“The PCSO charity fund loses money because it is forced to give money (for purposes) not related to its mandate,” Guingona said at a press conference after the hearing on Wednesday.
According to its website, the PCSO takes 30 percent of the income from lotto and sweepstakes ticket sales and puts it into a trust fund. It said the trust fund is used exclusively to finance and support health programs, medical assistance and services, and charities of national character.
During the hearing, PCSO chairman Juico said the PCSO also gives money to the Commission on Higher Education, the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. and other agencies that are not covered by its charter.
Those fund allocations, mandated by various laws, eat into the charity fund, Guingona said. “Money that should have gone to the poor goes somewhere else,” he said.
Guingona is eyeing a revision of the PCSO Charter to make sure money will only go to health projects and charitable institutions that it was created to support.
Senator Panfilo Lacson has also called for an update of the PCSO Charter, saying it is already outdated.
Congress created the PCSO in 1954 and its original Charter had been revised twice, in 1977 and 1979.
“And it’s now 2011. (We need to revise the charter) just so we can fix the PCSO’s funds and to make sure they go where they are supposed to go,” he said.
During the hearing, PCSO general manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas said the previous PCSO board left the office with a debt of P3 billion that it is now paying off. He said the debt was incurred from overspending by the previous board.
Lacson asked whether the PCSO could run after former members of the board for the alleged overspending, but PCSO board member Maria Aleta Tolentino said there was nothing in their Charter on that.
What the 57-year-old Charter does call for is imprisonment for selling fake sweepstakes tickets.
Senator Escudero, meanwhile, called on the sweepstakes office to lay down guidelines on how medical assistance and other grants are given.
He said the PCSO should target the poorest of the poor, and not just in the areas where its 26 offices are located.
“We can use the census and our labor force survey. Why is it that we are able to identify the extent and magnitude of poor families by areas? The PCSO can use this for targeting to be able to reach the most number of people in the provinces too and extend its services,” he said.
He also assailed the PCSO for its supposed “Imperial Manila” syndrome for offering most of its services and assistance in the nation’s capital.
“The poor and sick people are not concentrated only in certain parts of the country. We have them all over the country. I would like to believe that the 26 offices of PCSO nationwide have pre-identified the poorest areas where fund allocation and disbursement is most needed, like the Armm (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) and majority of Mindanao,” he said.
The Senate hearing was prompted by reports of luxury vehicles and cash donations given to members of the clergy.
Among them was Butuan Bishop Juan De Dios Pueblos, whom the PCSO said solicited the donation of a new vehicle as a “birthday gift.” The PCSO said a board resolution in 2009 approved the release of around P1.7 million “for one unit, 4×4 service vehicle.”
Forgo government donations
Catholic Church leaders on Wednesday said they would forgo donations from the PCSO if giving the Church government money is “improper, if not illegal.”
In a letter to Senator Teofisto Guingona III, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines welcomed a Senate probe on the allegedly improper donation of high-priced vehicles to members of the clergy.
According to a Commission on Audit report, state auditors said the purchase of five vehicles given to Catholic Church archdioceses that was charged to the Charity Fund of the PCSO may have violated the Constitution.
The Constitution bars the use of public funds “for the use, benefit, or support of any sect, church, denomination, sectarian institution, or system of religion.”
“We are grateful that this matter has come to light, and that the Senate can now help the PCSO clarify this issue once and for all,” CBCP president Bishop Nereo Odchimar said.
He said that if the PCSO donations are illegal, “by all means, let us put an end to this long-standing practice.” However, he said the CBCP believes no law was broken.
He added the donations do not belong to a particular bishop but to the diocese that received the donation. “Whatever benefit the Catholic Church may draw from the gift is purely incidental,” he wrote.
The CBCP letter came with a matrix of allegations against the “Pajero 7,” the moniker given by the media to seven bishops who allegedly bought Mitsubishi Pajeros with PCSO money.
According to the CBCP, none of the bishops named bought Pajeros. Bishop Rodolfo Beltran of Bontoc-Lagawe bought a second-hand 10-year-old Nissan Pathfinder pick-up, it said.
Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian of Bangued, Abra and Bishop Martin Jumoad bought Mitsubishi Stradas. Archbishop Orlando Quevedo of Cotabato bought a Toyota Grandia Hi-Ace, as did Bishop Romullo Valles of Zamboanga. Bishop Ernesto Salgado of Caritas Nueva Segovia in Ilocos Sur, meanwhile, bought an Isuzu Crosswind, the CBCP said.
Butuan Bishop Juan De Dios Pueblos, meanwhile, bought a Mitsubishi Montero, “and not a Pajero,” the CBCP said. The Mitsubishi Pajero is sold in the United States as the Montero.
Odchimar said the vehicles were used for Church outreach programs.
Pueblos, who requested the vehicle from then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as a “birthday gift” said he needed a new car for the Church’s “social and spiritual programs.”
Guingona said the donations have to be seen in the context of what they were meant for. “If the objective is to promote a certain religion, that’s wrong. If the objective is to be charitable and not for the religion, that’s allowed.”
Senate President Enrile agreed with this view, saying if the vehicles were given for the benefit of the public, “and not for the person receiving it, you cannot fault them for that.”
Senator Lacson was skeptical, however. “Why a sports-utility vehicle (SUV)? Why ask for that? If you want to help the poor, why not ask for medicine and medical kits for the poor?” he said.
Lacson said the vehicles were bought not to aid the poor, but to aid the comfort of whoever will ride in the SUV.
Palace praises PCSO officials
Malacanang on Wednesday praised the PCSO for participating in a Senate investigation regarding the alleged practice of donating expensive motor vehicles to Catholic bishops during the previous administration.
“What the Senate is doing is in aid of legislation and we are glad that the PCSO is doing its job of promoting transparency in their search for the truth,” Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.
Lacierda said Malacanang will not urge the bishops to return the vehicles leaving it to the conscience of those who benefited from the alleged anomalous practice.
“We will leave it to them to decide the best and proper thing to do in this case,” he said.
The Palace official reiterated that the issue against the Catholic bishops has nothing to do with their opposing views on Reproductive Health (RH) bill.
“They (PCSO) are just doing their work so it is something they are doing based on their mandate to promote good governance,” he said.
He added that it is not a way of getting back at the Church pointing out that the issue started at the Commission on Audit (COA), a body independent from Malacanang.
“That is totally baseless. We don’t know the COA report until they revealed it,” Lacierda said.
He also said Malacanang does not need to coerce the Church because it perfectly understands the stand of the bishops on RH bill. (Sunnex)
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/07/07/senate-summons-ex-pcso-executives-165420

Wine is becoming increasingly popular in Manila and other cities in the Philippines. Wine lovers in Manila travel to the north to visit Clark, Pampanga to shop for good and rate vintage wines at good duty-free prices. The most frequently visited liquor shop in Manila and wine shop in Pampanga is Clark Wine Center. This highly recommended wine shop located outside Manila near Angeles City, Pampanga in North Luzon is known for offering a great selection of fine vintage wine that is good quality and good value for money also.

This well-known wine shop is a famous shopping destination for wine enthusiasts in Manila and wine lovers from other cities in Asia including Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, Osaka and Tokyo.

Famous Philippines wine supplier known for its line of fine vintage wines, Yats Wine Cellars was established in 2000 to address the requirement of a growing population of wine enthusiasts in the Philippines. This 5-star wine shop caters to the discerning client who requires these qualities in their wines: (1) excellent value, (2) large selection of labels and vintages to choose from and (3) wines properly aged for full enjoyment.

Public wine tastings are held from time to time in Clark and sometimes in Manila. Tickets range from p500 to p1500 for these themed events that are professionally run –no wine merchants sponsorship, pushy salesmen or tacky banners to ruin the evening. Each ticket contains a certain number of stubs that can be redeemed for a tasting pour of a wine among those on a line-up which often contains wines that are quite old and expensive.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com