OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR GUINGONA
2ND BLUE RIBBON HEARING-PCSO

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. This is the second hearing on the issue of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. Kahapon, nakita po natin na hindi pa tapos yung buong scenario tungkol sa mga issues tungkol sa PCSO . Tungkol sa mga pagbigay ng mga sasakyan sa religious sector. It is not yet clear, we have to take and evaluate the documents and testimony and evaluate each donation in accordance with the standard. What is the standard? The standard is that if the donation was made for a secular purpose or a public purpose, for charitable purposes, then it is allowed. But if the donation was made to further a religion, para isulong ang isang relihiyon ay hindi po puwede iyon. Sa ngayon, hindi pa klaro kung ang bawat donasyon ay sapat para sabihin na legal o illegal sapagkat madami pang dapat tanungin sa mga resource persons sa mga susunod na panahon.

Pangalawa nakita natin kahapon na mayroon alegasyon tungkol sa korupsiyon sa PCSO sa advertising contracts as much as 40 percent. Where alleged to be given back to Mr. Garcia as kickbacks so that they would released the amounts for the services rendered as advertising contracts.

Lastly , there is this burning issue on the intelligence funds of the PCSO. The PCSO, in the year 2008 was granted 75 million pesos in intelligence fund. This figures are based on the documents furnished to us. 90 Million in the year 2009. An increase by 15 million lang. Pero pag dating sa 2010, halos nag doble . From 90 million naging 160 million . Napaka laking increase and on Jan. 4,2010, there is a request for a minimum of 150 million pesos as intelligence funds or 20 percent of the PR for use of intelligence purposes. Feb. 18,2010, the letter had a signature and okay from GMA. Feb. 18,2010, the former board of PCSO, passed a board resolution designating Ms. Rosario Uriarte as the Special Disbursing Officer of the Intelligence funds and checks were issued in her name. What is perplexing here is if we look at the amounts on Jan.8 , 10 million was released. On Feb. 4, 10 million; February 22,10 million; March 10, 20 million; April 30, 25 million, right before the elections. Atfer the elections, on June 11, 5 million. On June 18, twice released of 2.5 million and of 10 million. Why such a big amount? 150 million is just the same as the Intelligence fund of AFP.

Bakit napakalaki at bakit ginawa noong panahon ng eleksiyon. Nakakapagtaka. Ano ang purpose nila at bakit nagkaganito?

Nakalagay po sa request nila na ang purpose ay para ma- suppress itong mga schemes and activities such as:

1. donated medicines sometimes and up in drugstores for sale even if it is labeled as donated by PCSO. 2. Unauthorized expenditure of endowment fund
3. Paghuhuli ng mga fixers sa different programs
4. Other schemes

Base po sa dokyumento , dito po ginagamit ang 150 million pero tinignan ko po ang documents na request noong 2008, 2009 at 2010, the same justification was used and it seems it's just a template inserted.

My question is if after 3 years , you spent a total of 325 million pesos to suppress this illegal activities, mayroon nab a kayong nahuli? Sino na ang nahuli ninyo ? Kinasuhan na ba ninyo at nasaan na ang mga kaso? If not, hindi mo din masisi sapagkat the questions on the amounts and circumstances are really suspect and hindi mo din masisisi sapagkat nangyari na din ito noong nakaraan, yung Hello Garci. Why did it have to pass through GMA? Is this the procedure? These are the burning issues that has to be answered.