Matapos na sibakin si Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Alexander Balutan, dapat nang magsampa ng kaso ang Palasyo laban sa kanya dahil sa pagkakasangkot sa kurapsiyon, ayon kay Senador Panfilo Lacson.
“Since Malacañang has already cited and announced the reason for his sacking, it is incumbent upon them to file the necessary criminal charges for violation of the country’s anti graft laws,” pahayag ni Lacson.
Sinabi ni Lacson na kumbinsido siya na mayroong basehan ang desisyon ni Pangulong Duterte na sibakin si Balutan sa pagbanggit sa impormasyon na kinalap ng Senate Committee on Games and Amusements.
Enero ng nakaraang taon, nagsagawa ng imbestigasyon ang panel sa posibleng kurapsiyon sa PCSO sa pamamagitan ng small-town lottery (STL) operations, kung saan nadiskubre na nawawalan ang gobyerno ng P4 bilyon kada buwan na napupunta sa mga gambling lords, local government officials at law enforcers na ginagamit na sangkalan ang STL para sa “jueteng” o illegal numbers game.
“If only his demeanor and other data gathered by our committee in those hearings, I am inclined to think there is basis in his sacking as PCSO Gen Manager,” ayon kay Lacson, chairman ng komite.
Sa kabilang banda, nagpahayag siya ng panghihinayang para sa retired Marine general, na aniya ay hinangaan niya sa pag-testify laban sa umano’y fraud sa Mindanao noong 2004 elections, sa kabila ng utos mula kay dating Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo na bawal magsalita ang mga opisyal ng gobyerno hinggil sa kontrobersiya.
“As a young Marine Lt. Col. who stood by his superior, BGen (Ret) Francisco Gudani in exposing massive vote-rigging activities in Mindanao in the 2004 elections, in spite of threats and harassments from Malacañang, Balutan struck me as a highly principled and courageous officer worth emulation by all the members of the AFP. I felt proud being associated with him and Gudani as fellow graduates of the PMA, (Philippine Military academy)” pagbabalik-tanaw ng dating police chief.
“Fast forward, when we conducted senate hearings on the possible corruption in the PCSO under his watch in relation to STL operations, I kept asking myself – what has happened to this man?,” dagdag niya.
Kinumpirma ni Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo nitong Biyernes ng gabi na sinibak ni Duterte si Balutan.
“The Palace confirms that President Rodrigo Duterte has terminated the services of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Alexander Balutan on his present post due to serious allegations of corruption,” ayon kay Panelo
HINDI NASIKMURA KAYA NAGBITIW?
Mayroon ba sa gobyerno na humiling kay Balutan na hindi niya kayang sikmurain kaya siya nagbitiw bilang general manager ng PCSO?
Ito ang tanong na lumutang makaraang mag-post ang official Facebook page ni Balutan ng isang screenshot ng kanyang statement na nagpapakita ng dati niyang pahayag na siya ay magbibitiw kung mayroong humingi sa kanya ng pabor na hindi niya kayang sikmurain.
“I told all PCSO employees when I assumed as general manager in 2016 that if somebody from the Office of the President or the Congress asks or orders me to do something which I cannot stomach… I WILL RESIGN,” bahagi ng pahayag ni Balutan.
Nagpatuloy ang dating PCSO general manager at sinabing hindi niya hiningi ang kanyang posisyon sa ahensiya, idinagdag na maaga siya niretiro ni Pangulong Duterte upang matulungan sa pagpapatakbo ng kanyang administrasyon.
“I did not ask for this position. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte retired me early from the Marines to help him run his administration. In silence, I did and I excelled. I did not ask anything from the president in return. The rest is history,” aniya.
Vanne Elaine P. Terrazola, Beth Camia, at Jel Santos
