Manila, Philippines – The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has filed a P391.9-mil- lion plunder case before the Ombudsman against former President now Pam- panga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and nine others.
Charged along with Arroyo were Rosario C. Uriarte, former PCSO general manager and vice chairman; Sergio O. Valencia, erstwhile PCSO chairman; exPCSO Board Directors Manuel L.
Morato, Jose R. Taruc, Ma Fatima A.S. Valdes, and Raymundo T. Roquero; Benigno B. Aguas, incumbent PCSO assistant manager for finance, who was then manager of the Budget and Accounting Department and chief accountant; former Commission on Audit (CoA) chairman Reynaldo L. Villar, and lawyer Nilda Plaras, then head of the CoA Intelligence/Confidential Fund Audit Unit.
The PCSO approved Board Resolution No. 370 authorizing the filing of charges on December 1. It was signed by PCSO Chairperson Margarita P. Juico and members of the Board of Directors – Mabel V. Mamba, Francisco Joaquin III, Maria Aleta L. Tolentino, and Betty B. Nantes – and attested to by Board Secretary Eduardo G. Araullo, who filed the case with the PCSO resident ombudsman and forwarded it to Ombudsman a day after.
“After review and evaluation of records of the PCSO, the Commission on Audit, and the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, among others, it was revealed and manifested that former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and former members of the PCSO Board of Directors and General Manager in connivance and/or cooperation with one another and other PCSO officers, approved and/or authorized the irregular disbursement and use of Confidential Intelligence Funds (CIFs),” the PCSO said in the resolution.
“It is in violation of RA (Republic Act) 1169, as amended and other applicable laws on disbursement of public funds; exceeded approved budget, and released, disbursed, and/or expended without appropriate supporting documents and no appropriate liquidation in accordance with law.” (Edd K. Usman)
Incoming search terms:
- pcso chairman 2012
