A bit of good news and bad news for chairman Erineo Maliksi of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
An opposition lawmaker on Tuesday took up the cudgels for Maliksi who was criticized for the P2-million medical assistance he allegedly provided to his ailing personal driver.
Maliksi at the same time drew flak over his alleged reappointment of at least 30 consultants despite the supposed lack of agency funds.
Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, member of the House minority bloc, said every deserving individual like Maliksi’s driver Celestino Ama, who was said to be suffering from a heart ailment, should not be deprived of their right to access much-needed assistance from charitable institutions of government.
“Ama did not lose the right to get medical assistance from the PCSO despite being the driver of Maliksi,” Albano said. “If he is a deserving and qualified indigent patient who has no means to pay for medical expenses, then I don’t see anything wrong why he should not be given the P2 million in PCSO funds.”
“Maliksi’s driver obviously does not live a comfortable life as his boss and so he ran to the PCSO for a medical assistance,” Albano said. “I believe the PCSO will do the same for other patients who are in the same situation as Ama’s.”
Albano said, however, he doubts Maliksi used his influence and power to favor his driver.
But a transparency watchdog on Tuesday hit out at Maliksi, saying the PCSO chief has a lot of explaining to do for renewing the contracts of 13 agents and 10 consultants.
Jennifer “Joy” Castro, Filipino Alliance for Transparency and Empowerment president, said Maliksi’s agency was already running out of funds for continued provision of
financial assistance to indigent patients.
“There is a rationalization going on among the PCSO staff. How come Maliksi could be able to reappoint people even if the agency’s funds are getting depleted and depleted? Where is he getting the money to pay such workers?” she asked.
According to Castro, based on the research of FATE, there were other 23 reappointed personnel to receive wages until March 31.
Since Maliksi’s assumption into office in April 2015, at least 21 confidential agents, six contractual consultants, five job orders and two special agents were hired effective April 23, 2015.