Wanted: ‘Berdugo’ as PCSO chief

DAVAO CITY – Presidentelect Rodrigo Duterte is bent on finding someone who is ready to “kill” to be the head of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), which he considers one of the most corrupt government agencies.

“I want somebody who is ready to kill, a berdugo (executioner), who is strong-willed to effect change in the PCSO,” he said last week.

Duterte said he wants somebody who could stop the illegal activities in the PCSO that has been a haven for making more money through gambling, gaming and sweepstakes.

“I will really go after the operations in the PCSO,” he said.

He lamented that the PCSO has become the milking cow of previous administrations, especially for purposes of sourcing

funds for the elections.

“The problem is they are now able to bind what is legal with what is illegal in the PCSO operations,” he said.

Duterte said he would also order a thorough investigation of PCSO records so that those who will be found liable for any misdeeds will be taken to account.

There were reports of discrepancies in the PCSO’s online lottery sales wherein an increased income was declared but there has been noted a decrease in the income of the lotto even if ticket prices increased from P10 to P20 for the 6/42 and 6/45 draws.

There is allegedly an underreporting of the re a l inc ome of the PCSO, aside from the income of certain favored groups derived from illegal gambling such as jueteng that is proliferating mostly in the Luzon area.

Dut er t e said that the charity program of PCSO would also be reviewed to make more people benefit from the program.