Balutan ‘happy’ with clarification on resignation: Panelo

Panelo said Balutan decided to resign “out of delicadeza” amid “serious” allegations hurled against him. (File Photo: Office of the Presidential Spokesperson/Facebook)

MANILA — Resigned Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager, Alexander Balutan, is happy with the issued clarification that he indeed stepped down from his post, Malacañang said Tuesday.

“I think Gen. Balutan is happy that we made a clarification,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

Panelo said Balutan decided to resign “out of delicadeza” amid “serious” allegations hurled against him.

“He (Balutan) said he really wants an investigation and I told him I will write a memo to the President and request the President to grant your request for an investigation,” he said.

Panelo said the allegations against Balutan include the House of Representatives’ investigation, which showed Commission on Audit (COA) findings on certain Small-Town Lottery areas failing to meet their quotas but whose licenses were renewed, and cash allegedly brought to the PCSO office.

He said Balutan denied these allegations, noting that renewal of license to operate is a board decision and that the alleged cash was not brought to his office.

“Basta ang sinasabi niya (Balutan said), ‘But the floor that the money was brought to was not my office. That’s the floor of other directors, not me,’” Panelo said.

He maintained President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s stance that he will not tolerate even “a whiff of corruption” in his administration.

Panelo clarified on Monday that Balutan has resigned, apparently retracting his earlier statement on Friday that the former PCSO chief was fired over corruption allegations.

He, however, explained that the Office of the President received Balutan’s resignation letter only after it announced his sacking.