PCSO chief resigned, not fired: Palace spox

Balutan, one of the many ex-military appointees of President Rodrigo R. Duterte, has denied these accusations. (File Photo: Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA — Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Alexander Balutan has indeed resigned from his post, Malacañang said on Monday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made this clarification, apparently retracting his statement on Friday that Balutan was fired over corruption allegations.

“We wish to clarify that former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Alexander Balutan has indeed tendered his resignation through a letter submitted to the Office of the President,” Panelo said in a statement.

Panelo, however, explained that the OP received Balutan’s resignation letter only after it announced his sacking.

“The said written communication was, however, formally received by the OP only after the Palace has already announced his cessation from office,” Panelo said.

“We hope this sets the record straight on the timeline of what transpired,” he added.

According to Panelo, Balutan stepped down out of delicadeza because of corruption allegations in relation to being accused with spending PHP10 million for a “lavish” Christmas party in a five-star hotel in 2017.

Balutan, one of the many ex-military appointees of President Rodrigo R. Duterte, has denied these accusations.

“Mr. Balutan resigned out of delicadeza because of, as we have said, serious allegations of corruption in the PCSO. He has requested the President for a fair and impartial investigation to ferret out the truth on the matter,” Panelo said.

On Saturday, Balutan took to social media to explain that he resigned from the agency, contrary to Panelo’s initial claim that he was fired.