MANILA, Philippines - Former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Rosario Uriarte can be charged with plunder over alleged financial irregularities in the state lottery agency, Senator Franklin Drilon said on Thursday.
He told the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) that despite deficiencies in the PCSO's current charter, former officials of the agency can still be held liable for their alleged anomalies.
"To me, she can be held liable for plunder. She used funds for purposes other than it was intended for, for intel purposes. I doubt these can be justified," Drilon added.
He said the PCSO irregularities revealed during the Senate hearings this week highlight the urgent need to revise the agency's charter.
Drilon said amendments must be made to ensure that the PCSO's original mandate is followed, which means that its funds are used for public health purposes and not to pay back political favors, buy cars for Catholic church officials, or used as blood money for Filipinos convicted of murder abroad.
"Pinagsamantalahan ang mga di gaanong malinaw na probisyobn ng charter," he told dzMM's Pasada Sais Trenta in a separate interview.
"Kung maayos ang pagiisip... ng namumuno, hindi dapat nangyari," Drilon added. 'Service vehicles' not Pajeros
During the Senate hearing Thursday, former PCSO officials denied giving Mitsubishi Pajeros to bishops.
However, they admitted giving government funds to some bishops to buy "service vehicles."
"Malinaw sa mga resolution na binigay na wala kami binigay na Pajero," Uriarte said.
She said the vehicles were given to bishops for charity work in far-flung areas.
However, Senator Panfilo Lacson questioned Uriarte's reason, saying ambulances--and not sports utility vehicles (SUVs)--should have been donated instead.
"Pang-transport ng pasyente? SUV ba pang transport pasyente? Di ba dapat ambulansya?" he asked.
Uriarte claimed that people preferred to travel in unmarked SUVs allegedly because of security concerns. - Reports from ANC
