Government to name more groups involved in ‘PCSO scam’

July 3, 2011
THE government assured Sunday that it will not hesitate to reveal other questionable donations allegedly given to several religious groups amid controversy involving the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
“We are certain that if there are other questionable donations included in the 2008-2009 COA (Commission on Audit) report, [they] will be revealed by the PCSO,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in her weekly interview over government-run Radyo ng Bayan.
The PCSO disclosed last week a series of board resolutions made in 2009 that gave two Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) to Butuan City Bishop Juen de Dios Pueblos.
Reverend Orlando Quevedo from Cotabato, Monsignor Augusto Laban from Sorsogon, and Father Roger Lood of Iligan City also reportedly got vehicles.
These Church officials were believed to be members of the “Malacañang Diocese.”
Quevedo, on a statement on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website, however, denied asking for and receiving “any vehicle for (his) personal use, whether a Pajero or SUV or any other vehicle.”
“In 2008, I, indeed, wrote a request to the PCSO for a vehicle to be used by our Social Action program, especially for our Community Based Health Program,” he said, adding the request was granted but did not say what vehicle he received.
The grants have been assailed as irregular since government money cannot be spent for the benefit of a religious sect, denomination, or church.
PCSO Director Aleta Tolentino said the sweepstakes office can grant ambulances but not luxury vehicles.
Investigation
With this, House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman urged President Benigno Aquino III to investigate the cash and sports-utility vehicles that the sweepstakes office allegedly gave members of the clergy to spare innocent priests.
Lagman, who has been at odds with the Church for sponsoring the Reproductive Health (RH) bill, said the issue of government gifts to priests “has shattered the moral ascendancy of the clergy.”
“The varying defensive responses of the bishops: from contrived denials to deodorized admissions have aggravated their fragile position,” he added.
“While the self-probe to be conducted by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is welcomed, an independent investigation should be ordered by the President so that the guilty parties could be held accountable and the innocent clerics spared,” he said.
Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla, for his part, urged PCSO chairperson Margie Juico to identify other religious groups who have benefited from the administration of former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Capalla said accusations against the “Pajero 7” are unfair, noting they are being targeted by the government because of the bishops’ critical position on the controversial RH bill.
Valte insisted, however, that the Church’s position on RH bill has nothing to do with the issue, adding the PCSO is not singling out the CBCP.
“It has nothing to do with the Church being critical of the RH bill. It has nothing to do with some of them being critical of the President,” she said.
She pointed out that the report was merely based on the findings of COA, which is an agency independent from the Office of the President.
Valte added that they will leave it to the PCSO Board of Directors whether or not to ask the Pajero bishops to return the SUVs and other questionable donations to the PCSO.
“The PCSO has its own board. They are the ones who craft the policy within the legal framework and the mandate of PCSO. Whether they will ask these bishops to return or they will discontinue these donations, it’s a policy question,” the Palace official explained.
She said the decision to file criminal charges against the Pajero 7 should be deferred to the PCSO board.
Defense
Meanwhile, an official of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila (RCAM) defended the Pajero 7 bishops, insisting there is nothing wrong with the donations or grants they have received from any government agency.
Caritas Manila executive director Fr. Anton Pascual said funds coming from the PCSO are part of the “critical collaboration” between the government and the Church in serving the public.
“Church is still the best partner ng government sa common good,” said Pascual over Church-run Radio Veritas.
He said this would only mean that whatever grants are given to the Church by the government is not meant for personal use of Church leaders.
“Whatever the donations either cash or in kind the Church leaders receive will always be for the benefit of the community, since Church leaders are stewards and not owners of what they received from public and private donors,” said Pascual.
Caritas Manila is the lead agency for social services and development of the RCAM.
CBCP president Bishop Nereo Odchimar, for his part, admitted he owns a Mitsubishi Pajero but denied it comes from PCSO.
“I bought a second-hand, three-door Pajero at the amount of P200,000 from a private owner. It did not come from Malacañang. I bought it with my own personal money. I can show you the deed of absolute sale if you have doubts,” said Odchimar.
The Tandag prelate said he used to be labeled as a member of the Malacañang Diocese due to his supposed “closeness” to Arroyo.
“Before, I was associated even in the media that I’m close to PGMA (former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo)… That has to be qualified that I am close with GMA because protocol dictates that as the head of the diocese, whenever GMA with several government officials (are in Tandag). If I am there, I’m also with them because we have common constituents,” he said.
The CBCP head added that whenever he “lobbies” with Arroyo, he does it for his group and not for personal reasons.
He said the Pajero scandal will be discussed in their next Plenary Assembly on July 8-9.
The Plenary Assembly is the highest decision-making body of the CBCP and convenes every January and July.
The 103rd Plenary Assembly is set to take place at the Pope Pius Catholic Center in Manila.
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Senator Teofisto Guingona III, has also scheduled hearings on the issue on Wednesday and Thursday next week.

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/07/03/government-name-more-groups-involved-pcso-scam-164769

Over the holidays, travelers from Manila going to the north for a getaway destination choose Pampanga Angeles City and Clark Philippines as a popular holiday location. Aside from day-time sports and other activities, visitors look for a good wine shop to buy some good wine to celebrate a special occasion or just to make the holiday and vacation more enjoyable. Many wine lovers pick up some good bottles from Clark Wine Center to bring to dinner in some of the good restaurants in Angeles City, Clark Pampanga. Yats Restaurant is one of the most famous fine dining restaurants outside of Manila, located in Mimosa Leisure Estate inside Clark Airbase or Clark Freeport Zone as it is now called. This popular restaurant has become a tourist attraction, a place to visit for those who are in Pampanga, Subic, Angeles City and of course, Clark Philippines. The famous wine shop called Clark Wine Center supplies this famous restaurant in Clark Philippines as well as other good restaurants in Angeles City Pampanga with good wines of all price ranges.

Wine is becoming increasingly popular in Manila and other cities in the Philippines. Wine lovers in Manila travel to the north to visit Clark, Pampanga to shop for good and rate vintage wines at good duty-free prices. The most frequently visited liquor shop in Manila and wine shop in Pampanga is Clark Wine Center. This highly recommended wine shop located outside Manila near Angeles City, Pampanga in North Luzon is known for offering a great selection of fine vintage wine that is good quality and good value for money also.

This well-known wine shop is a famous shopping destination for wine enthusiasts in Manila and wine lovers from other cities in Asia including Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, Osaka and Tokyo.

Famous Philippines wine supplier known for its line of fine vintage wines, Yats Wine Cellars was established in 2000 to address the requirement of a growing population of wine enthusiasts in the Philippines. This 5-star wine shop caters to the discerning client who requires these qualities in their wines: (1) excellent value, (2) large selection of labels and vintages to choose from and (3) wines properly aged for full enjoyment.

Public wine tastings are held from time to time in Clark and sometimes in Manila. Tickets range from p500 to p1500 for these themed events that are professionally run –no wine merchants sponsorship, pushy salesmen or tacky banners to ruin the evening. Each ticket contains a certain number of stubs that can be redeemed for a tasting pour of a wine among those on a line-up which often contains wines that are quite old and expensive.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

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While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com