Duterte fires Alexander Balutan for corruption

President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday dismissed Alexander Balutan, general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) for corruption, local media reports.

The termination was confirmed in a statement by presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo on Friday night.

“The Palace confirms that President Duterte has terminated the services of PCSO general manager Alexander Balutan on his present post due to serious allegations of corruption,” Panelo said in a statement.

Panelo did not go into detail as to the particular offense that Balutan committed.

On Saturday, speaking to ABS-CBN News, Balutan said “some powerful people” were behind the decision to remove him from the agency.

Balutan said the received a call from executive secretary Salvador Medialdea who told him that “some people” wanted him out.

Balutan declined to give details but said it was related to small-town-lottery (STL).

The Senate conducted an inquiry on alleged corruption related to STL operations back in January 2018.

Balutan said he welcomed any and all investigations of his alleged corruption as he wanted to clear his name.

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