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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'What makes you so very special?': Senate panel issues subpoena vs PCSO's Cua, Robles

'What makes you so very special?': Senate panel issues subpoena vs PCSO's Cua, Robles

Published Sep 27, 2023 09:15 am

A Senate panel issued a subpoena compelling Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Mel Robles, Chairman Junie Cua, and its other officials for repeated absences in the upper chamber's inquiry into the integrity and trustworthiness of lotto games.

Since the beginning of the hearing of the Committee on Games and Amusement, Vice Chairman Sen. Raffy Tulfo was already irked by the failure of some of its high-ranking officials to appear after they already asked to reschedule the hearing twice.

"Anong meron sa PCSO? Samantalang lahat ng agencies ng gobyerno pag pinapatawag ng Senado pumupunta. Kayo sa PCSO hindi. Anong meron sa inyo? What makes you so very special. Ngayon wala dito yung boss n’yo (What's with PCSO? All government agencies when invited by the Senate make time to come. The PCSO doesn't. What's with you? What makes you so very special? Now your boss is not here)," Tulfo said.

Only there to bear the brunt of Tulfo's questions were Atty. Maria Katrina Nicole Contacto from the Office of the General Manager and John Derek Porciuncula, the head of PCSO's Legal Department.

In a letter, Robles stated they are currently participating in the World Lottery Association and European Lotteries Seminar in Oslo, Norway.

Much of the discussion during the inquiry centered around PCSO's plan to launch an electronic system wherein bettors can purchase tickets online. Tulfo opposed this, stating that this is bound to displace thousands of operators across the country.

While Contacto argued that it's only a test run at the moment to see its viability in the future, Tulfo reiterated that once it becomes successful, the eventual result is the phasing out of various lotto agents either by PCSO or on their own due to loss of sales as more people will opt to buy tickets online.

In relation to this, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III questioned Robles' pronouncement that this move is part of President Marcos' call for digital transformation.

"Di ba kayo nag-iisip sa PCSO? (Are people in PCSO thinking?) Is that the meaning digitalization of the government?" Pimentel asked.

Pimentel explained that the government's goal is to enhance processes and not to promote gambling through digital means.

"If that's how they think, delikado tayo (we're in trouble)," he said.

"What kind of implementation of instruction of the President is that?" he added.

This prompted him to make a motion for Tulfo to issue a subpoena against Cua and Robles.

Tulfo issued a notice directing the PCSO to submit a position paper regarding Senate Resolutions No. 253 and 466 within 10 days after receipt.

Related Tags

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III PCSO Senator Raffy Tulfo
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