Unclaimed prizes placed under PCSO Charity Fund

Good day. As truth and impartiality is a goal that all media companies should uphold, I would like to take this time to correct a wrong impression of one of your writers, Mr. Federico D. Pascual Jr. in his opinion-related article dated July 3, 2012 in the Philippine Star entitled, “Drop PCSO’s supplier of fading Lotto tickets.”

I would like to specifically address and correct the third to the last paragraph, which was in bold fonts, and I quote, “The unclaimed prizes, running into millions, go into a special Malacañang fund. We have a bizarre situation where the biggest lottery winner is actually the President, and he does not even buy a ticket to collect!”

These statements are categorically not true. The unclaimed prizes from PCSO’s games are pooled and placed under the PCSO’s Charity Fund. In this way, the agency has more funds to achieve its mandate which is stipulated in the charter, that is, to provide funds for medical, dental, and health-care related assistance and support charities of national character.

Moreover, his statement on President Aquino is also resoundingly false. I believe that he is determined to pursue and carry out the “matuwid na daan” and in my opinion, would never do anything questionable to besmirch his reputation as president, and moreso, the good name that his parents have bestowed on him and the trust and goodwill of Filipinos.

It is in this light that we request to be given the opportunity to clarify and rectify these wrong impressions.

Thank you.