Roque reacts to the latest issue of PCSO
HARRY ROQUE – The former presidential spokesperson reacted to the latest controversy of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO)
According to former Presidential Spokesman Atty. Harry Roque, due to the PCSO official’s admission that they edited the released photo of the jackpot lotto winner, public suspicion has intensified, casting doubt on the authenticity of any lottery winners.
“Sana hindi na ginawa ng PCSO na inedit pa nila yung larawan na ginagamit nila para pasinungalingan na walang totoong nangyayari sa PCSO. Lalo lang silang lumubog sa kumunoy,” Roque said. He mentioned that the PCSO official’s admission of editing the photo constitutes a form of deception.
He emphasized the significant impact if the public loses trust in the PCSO, as people may stop participating in the lotto, even if it transitions to an online format. “Pag nawala ang tiwala ng taongbayan sino pa ang bibili ng ticket ng pcso? Wala na, maski pa mag-online kung ang paniwala ng tao ay walang nananalo, bakit ka pa tataya?” added Roque.
To restore transparency in the PCSO, Roque suggested that the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) should announce a reduction in taxes on the jackpot prize. Even without revealing the winner’s identity, he proposed replacing officials within the agency to regain public trust.
Meanwhile, Melquiades Robles, the General Manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, was urged to resign by Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers. He stressed the principle that “public office is a public trust,” asserting that when trust is lost, delicadeza, at the very least, should prompt one to resign.
Barbers questioned the necessity of publishing pictures of winning bettors, arguing that Robles, in an attempt to dispel rumors about draw legitimacy and winner authenticity, used AI technology. However, according to Barbers, this effort backfired, creating controversy rather than addressing concerns.