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PCSO intel funds nearly doubled before '10 elections


(Updated 3:30 p.m.) Senators on Thursday questioned the large amount of intelligence funds held by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) during the previous administration, particularly the near-doubling of the amount from P90 million in 2009 to P160 million in 2010, an election year. During the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing about alleged anomalies in the charity fund, chairman Sen. Teofisto Guingona III said: "Wow napakalaking increase (Wow that is such a huge increase)." Guingona said the PCSO requested P325 million in intelligence funds that were approved by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the last three years:
  • P75 million in 2008 (P25 million on April 2, 2008; P50 million on April 13, 2008);
  • P90 million in 2009 (P50 on January 19, 2009; P10 on April 27, 2009; P10 on July 2, 2009; P20 on October 19, 2009), and
  • P160 million in 2010 (P150 million on Jan. 4, 2010; P10 million on Feb. 25, 2010) "Bakit napakalaki at bakit ginawa noong panahon noong election (Why is the amount so huge and why was it requested during the elections)," he said. Later in the day, Guingona said Mrs. Arroyo should explain her alleged involvement in the anomalous disbursement of the PCSO intelligence funds. In contrast, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Senate defense committee, pointed out that the Department of National Defense and Armed Forces of the Philippines spent only P124 million in intelligence funds in one year for its projects. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, a former defense chief, also said: "Bakit napakalaki ng inyong [PCSO] intelligence funds? Ang Armed Forces nga na sakop nila ang seguridad ng buong bansa – kasama ang [banta] ng Moro Islamic Liberation Front, New People's Army at lahat ng transnational crimes, (pero) ang intelligence fund nila could not equal the intel fund ng PCSO. Why do you need such a huge amount of money?" Sen. Franklin Drilon, chairman of the Senate finance committee, asked former PCSO general manager and disbursing officer Rosario Uriarte to explain why the PCSO requested intelligence funds despite having a P60-million allotment for that purpose in its corporate budget. "What were you trying to do, build up a fund?" Enrile butted in. Uriarte said the PCSO's intelligence funds doubled because they needed more money for their nationwide STL (small-town lottery) project. "Nagkaroon po kami ng surveillance para sa illegal numbers game," Uriarte said. She added that the PCSO was working with other law enforcement agencies at the time. However, other former PCSO officials denied any knowledge of the alleged intelligence project managed by Uriarte. Drilon also raised a question on why P138 million of the intelligence funds were spent within the first six months of 2010, which he pointed out is within the election period. "Nagtataka lang kami, panahon ng eleksyon, dumami ba ang inyong ahente?" (We are just wondering if the number of your agents increased during the time of the elections?) he said. — RSJ/LBG/YA/HS, GMA News
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