NEW Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma promises to implement “internal cleansing” in the PCSO.
Garma, former Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) director, replaced Alexander Balutan, who was fired by President Rodrigo Duterte last March due to “serious allegations of corruption.”
She is aware that the PCSO had been tagged as one of the most corrupt government institutions in the country, and cleaning it is one of her great challenges.
“All the personnel there will be mobilized against corruption. That would be my first priority now that I am in my new line of public service,” she said.
The PCSO is a government-owned and controlled corporation under the Office of the President. It is mandated to raise and provide funds for health programs, including medical assistance and services.
Talking in front of Davao City officials in 2016, Duterte said the PCSO’s small town lottery was used for jueteng (an illegal numbers game), and not all of the PCSO’s earnings were turned over to the National Government.
According to Garma, she would be requesting some police officers to help her in the campaign against corruption.
She is confident that her 24-year police service has helped her prepare for the role of a general manager, and her being not a “people-pleaser” could help her clean the PCSO.
During her time as the CCPO director, she said at least 238 police officers were investigated for various violations, including those who have alleged links to illegal drugs. Around 20 police officers and non-uniformed personnel have either resigned, gone absent without official leave or opted for an early retirement.
“Maybe, they could not bear with me anymore,” she said. (WBS)