Morato criticized for using TV program to promote Gibo’s candidacy

Sen. Franklin Drilon on Monday criticized former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) chairman Manoling Morato for using the charity fund's television program "Dial M" to promote the presidential candidacy of Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro in the 2010 elections. During Monday's Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on the alleged anomalies in the PCSO, Morato admitted that he had openly expressed his support for Teodoro during the program, which was funded by the PCSO to promote its projects. "They were all in favor of one candidate," Morato said, referring to the program's viewers. "He (Teodoro) was my candidate." Teodoro was the standard-bearer of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, the party of then-President and now incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is now being accused of being involved in anomalies in the charity fund. Teodoro served as Defense secretary under the Arroyo administration. Drilon said Morato should have realized that the PCSO funds used to pay for the airtime and talent fees of "Dial M" staff were public funds. "Did you not find it inappropriate, Mr. Morato, to use the time for political purposes when the purpose was to project PCSO, to project lotto? Why did you find it proper to comment and support a particular candidate?" he said. "Isn't that electioneering? Using public funds for political purposes?" Morato, who was also a member of the PCSO board at that time, said he was never paid to host the program nor was he paid to campaign for anyone. "I was asked to start that show, I was forced. I was not paid. I was free to say what I wanted," he said. Drilon, however, said that he was still part of the board that approved funding for programs like "Dial M." Useless program? Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, for his part, questioned the need for the television program. He cited a survey from a ratings firm that said the program's audience share was only 0.3 percent at best. "Iilan lang naman nanonood diyan... minsan nga wala naman nanonood. Sa aking tingin di yata nakakatulong yan (Only a few people watch that, sometimes no one at all. So I think that doesn't help the PCSO)," he said. But Morato said he does not believe in surveys because TV networks allegedly pay to have those conducted. He also said that there was a need for a public service show like "Dial M." PCSO general manager Ferdinand Rojas said the charity fund spent about P30 to P35 million for "Dial M," which Morato quickly pointed out was for all the years it was televised. "Dial M" was aired over NBN 4 at 9 p.m. Estrada, however, said it would have been better to use the money to help the sick. - KBK, GMA News