Former PSCO executives to face anti-graft probe

Wednesday 27th of July 2016

The Anti-Trapo Movement of the Philippines has called for the government prosecutor to indict former officials of the Philippine Charity and Sweepstakes Office over the extension of contracts for the lease of lottery terminals without public bidding.

According to the Inquirer, the anti corruption group filed the complaint in the Office of the Ombudsman alleging irregularities in the renewal contracts awarded to Philippine Gaming and Management Corp. (PGMC) and Pacific Online Systems Corp. (POSC) in 2015.

PCSO chair Erineo Maliksi and his predecessor Margarita Juico were both named in the complaint.

ATM head Leon Peralta said there was “dubious conduct and motive” in extending the lease contracts for the two companies without the benefit of a public bidding.

“What we’re saying is that upon expiration, the contracts should have been rebid,” said Peralta.

Other named respondents were PCSO general manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas II, assistant general manager Conrado Zabella, PCSO board members Florencio Noel, Betty Nantes, Mabel Mamba, and Francisco Joaquin III, and members of the PCSO’s bids and awards committee.

The complainant has also sought the preventive suspension of Maliksi and the other sitting officials pending the Ombudsman’s investigation into the case.

Lottery Probe Corruption Graft