Juico quits PCSO; no action yet from Noy

MANILA, Philippines - Citing her age and a need to rest, Margarita Juico tendered her resignation yesterday as chairman of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

President Aquino has not acted on the resignation. Juico said she would remain in her post until her resignation is accepted, although she preferred that it would take effect today.

Cavite Rep. Erineo "Ayong" Malicsi will reportedly replace Juico.

"They don't have to drag me out of my office. I don't want to get in his way. Let him have it," Juico, 65, told The STAR in a phone interview last night. "I have reached retirement age. I have served over two decades. Pahinga na muna (Rest first)."

Juico said Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa asked her if she could stay in her post until the end of the month, but she told him she would announce her resignation to PCSO personnel yesterday.

"I am not leaving my post until I get the acceptance of the President because it would be abandonment of my duties," Juico said. "But I didn't say it's an irrevocable (resignation) because I felt it was not respectful to the President, and I really just serve at his pleasure."

Juico was Corazon Aquino's appointments secretary throughout her presidency, and was her assistant until her death. Juico was a PCSO board member under the Ramos, Estrada and Arroyo administrations, but quit out of delicadeza when Mrs. Aquino called for Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's resignation in 2005.

"Nothing has changed as far as my loyalty to President Aquino is concerned," the PCSO chief told The STAR.

Juico's resignation came ahead of the PCSO's transfer from its office at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City to its new home along Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong.

The PICC management, Juico said, had notified the PCSO that it must vacate the premises before the end of June to give way to major renovations. The PICC is being prepared for the country's hosting next year of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Summit.

Juico brushed aside rumors that she was asked by Malacañang to resign because she lost the evidence on the PCSO plunder case against Arroyo. The case was dismissed recently.

"This is the first time I've heard about such talk. To begin with, when I became chairperson, the PCSO lawyers could not locate the evidence. They were lost already and so they were reconstructing them," she said.

She also brushed aside speculation that her resignation might have something to do with the two-month suspension of Interior Secretary Mar Roxas from the Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club for verbal abuse of club employees. The club board is headed by Juico's husband Philip, who served as agrarian reform secretary under Corazon Aquino.

"Let me rest," Juico said. "There is life after PCSO."