Former PCSO exec faces graft raps

By Michael Punongbayan The Philippine Star Updated May 19, 2011 12:00 AM 
 

MANILA,Philippines-  Two advertising firms filed graft charges yesterday against a former official of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) who allegedly asked them for hefty commissions.

In two separate complaints lodged before the Office of the Ombudsman, officials of Quizgem and Cross-Channel Advertising Services accused former PCSO advertising and promotions manager Manuel Garcia of demanding money from them each time they collected payment from the government agency.

Garcia allegedly threatened that their proposals and collections would not be acted upon “unless his share” is paid through deposits in his bank accounts.

Quizgem, represented by Alexander Quisumbing, said Garcia collected from them a total of P16.1 million from February 2006 to January 2008.

The money was deposited in bank accounts on various dates, Quisumbing said.

Cross-Channel, represented by Ludovico Yuseco, said Garcia collected a total of P12.6 million in commissions from their company from April 2009 to June 2010.

He said the respondent collected the money in the same manner by having various amounts deposited in just one bank account that was under his name.

Both advertising agencies said they have been doing business with the PCSO as a blocktime promoter for television networks that sell advertising placements and commercial spots for the government agency.

They said Garcia should be held liable for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Presidential Decree 46, which state that public officials and employees are “prohibited to receive, directly or indirectly, any gift, present or any other form of benefit in the course of official duties.”

PCSO board secretary Eduardo Araullo said Garcia filed a one-year leave of absence last March because he refused to be transferred to the agency’s marketing division.

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PCSO files graft rap vs former PR chief

By Sheryll Mundo, ABS-CBN News

Posted at 05/18/2011 4:14 PM | Updated as of 05/18/2011 11:13 PM

 MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office has filed a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against its former employee, Manuel Garcia, for alleged violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Board Secretary Atty. Eduardo Araullo said Garcia allegedly got kickbacks from the collections of ad placements while he was still head of PCSO’s publicity and public relations department.

“Ang ginagawa niya as head of public relations before, sa tuwing magbabayad ang PCSO humihingi siya ng 40%-50% na share niya. Kung hindi magbibigay tinatakot sila na hindi aaksyunan yun placements at proposals nila.” Araullo said.

Araullo said witnesses even presented deposit slips showing that they deposited money in Araullo’s account.

Garcia has been dropped from the rolls of PCSO since March 2011 after he refused to be transferred to the marketing department.

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PCSO exec faces P28-M graft rap

2 ad agencies claim official demanded cut from their collections

By Leila B. Salaverria
Philippine Daily Inquirer

2:32 am | Thursday, May 19th, 2011

 TWO advertising agency executives Wednesday filed a P28-million graft complaint against a former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) official accusing him of allegedly demanding a cut from their payments from the PCSO for a number of years.

The separate complaints against Manuel Garcia, the PCSO’s former advertising and promotions and special projects manager, were filed before the Office of the Ombudsman.

The complainants are Ludovico Yuseco of Cross-Channel Advertising Services and Alexander Quisumbing of Quizgem, an advertising agency, blocktimer and producer.

Yuseco and Quisumbing, whose companies made placements for PCSO advertisements, alleged that Garcia regularly demanded a percentage of the fees they collected from the agency and that Garcia’s share collectively added up to P28 million over the years.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer repeatedly sought Garcia’s reaction but calls went unanswered.

PCSO Board Secretary Eduardo Araullo said Garcia was officially dropped from the PCSO roster of officials last May 9 after failing to comply with a PCSO directive to submit a medical certificate to support his request for a year’s leave.

Araullo said Garcia had asked for a leave of absence for one year citing health reasons, but was not granted one because of a civil service rule that sets a maximum of six months’ leave.

He said Garcia had submitted a health certificate from the clinic at the House of Representatives, instead of the PCSO medical officer, to support his petition for a leave of absence. This prompted the PCSO board to declare Garcia AWOL although he may still file an appeal to return to office.

“But he now has to face these charges,” said Araullo.

Araullo told reporters that advertising firms have been complaining about Garcia, but the agency told them that it could not help them unless they come up with an affidavit that could be used to file a case against Garcia.

In his complaint, Yuseco said that every time he would collect his company’s money from the PCSO, Garcia would always demand a share. Garcia also allegedly threatened not to act on Cross Channel’s proposals and collections unless he got his share.

Yuseco said Garcia’s share was deposited in the latter’s Banco De Oro account. The deposits that Yuseco made from 2008 to 2010 amounted to P12.61 million.

Yuseco included in his affidavit a list of deposits that Cross Channel made into Garcia’s account, including the exact date and the specific amount that was deposited. He also attached to his affidavit the machine copies of the BDO deposit slips.

Quisumbing had a similar tale. He alleged that every time he would collect payments from the PCSO, Garcia would demand his share, threatening not to recommend the company’s proposals otherwise.

The amount he had given to Garcia added up to P16.101 million, Quisumbing said.

He said he deposited checks in the name of Alex Quisumbing and Manuel Garcia into accounts in Philtrust and Bank of Commerce. But he said that the checks issued to Alex Quisumbing were actually encashed and the proceeds delivered and deposited in Garcia’s account. With Penelope Endoso