COA shares view on STL

By BEN ROSARIO and EDD USMAN
July 24, 2011, 7:02pm

MANILA, Philippines -- The Commission on Audit (CoA) has aired the possibility that small town lottery (STL) operators may have hoodwinked the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and congressmen in the sharing of STL profits in the past four years.

This was gathered after congressmen denied receiving 2.5 percent of gross receipts of STL operators in their respective districts despite the inclusion of their names in the list of recipients.

Among those who vehemently denied having received money from STL were Deputy Speakers Lorenzo Tañada (LP, Quezon) and Arnulfo Fuentebella (NPC, Camarines Sur); Minority Leader Edcel Lagman (Lakas-Kampi, Albay); Reps. Elpidio Barzaga (NUP, Cavite); and Rodolfo Albano (Lakas-Kampi, Isabela).

On the other hand, Reps. Edgar San Luis (NPC, Laguna) and Danilo Suarez (Lakas-Kampi, Quezon), together with former Nueva Ecija Rep. Edno Joson, said the amounts they received were well accounted for and spent for charity programs in their respective congressional districts.

San Luis showed reporters copies of receipts and liquidation documents that he submitted to the STL operator to justify the expenses.

“Every centavo has been accounted for. Each peso went to what it is intended for – to charity,” said San Luis.

San Luis welcomed the conduct of a House investigation into the controversy.

A CoA report has indicated that under the STL rules and regulations, the 2.5 percent contribution for charity programs in various congressional districts will be directly remitted to the office of concerned congressmen.

Amid the fallout of the revelation of STL operators were directly giving congressmen their districts' shares from the STL revenue sans liquidation, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office is considering re-visiting the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the PCSO Loterya ng Bayan (PLB), STL's replacement.

The source said the launching of PLB this year after July may have to be deferred anew to a later date because of "intervening events," apparently referring to the fund mess at the PCSO during the past administration, which the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has been investigating.

State auditors said effective audit examination could not be rendered until the PCSO revokes Board Resolution No. 248 that directs direct remittance to congressional district of STL funds.

This audit recommendation backed suggestions aired by some solons that STL operators had actually withheld payments to congressmen and that the lack of audit examination failed to prevent the practice.

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