MANILA— “Insensitive.”
This was how Senator Sherwin Gatchalian described the Christmas party of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) which reportedly cost PHP 6 million.
“I believe staging this party in a luxurious five-star hotel and extravagantly spending PHP6 million is an ostentatious display of insensitivity on the part of PCSO,” Gatchalian said in his official Twitter account.
Gatchalian denounced the lavish Christmas party saying the PCSO should “practice austerity and prudence” for they are accountable for the budget being entrusted to them.
“Government employees should lead a good example in manifesting simplicity and prudence in all their actions,” he added.
He pointed out that it was clear that the decision to hold a lavish party was not right and showed that they had “no conscience.”
“Ipinapakita lamang nila ang kawalan ng konsensiya at pagka-manhid lalo sa panahon ngayon na bumabangon ang ilan sa ating mga kababayan mula sa nagdaang mga kalamidad (They are merely showing that they have no conscience and are numb especially at this time where some of our kababayans are recovering from calamity),” he added.
Malacañang earlier assured that they will look into the million-peso Christmas party held at EDSA Shangri-La.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said he is not sure if the said amount spent for the party is PHP6 million or PHP10 million.