Ombudsman suspends P’sinan PCSO head over STL inaction

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the 90-day preventive suspension of a Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) official over her alleged inaction to an order of former General Manager Alexander Balutan seeking to stop the supposed illegal operation of Small Town Lottery (STL) in Pangasinan.

Ordered suspended according to the 15 August decision of the Office of the Ombudsman is PCSO officer in charge branch manager for Pangasinan Editha Romero.

The other respondents in the complaint filed by Speedgame president David Diciano: Assistant General Manager Remeliza Gabuyo, Legal Department Officer Anna Liza Inciong and Manager Leila Galang however were not meted with the same penalty.

The complaint filed by Diciano alleges that Romero, including the other respondents committed Gross Misconduct and Gross Neglect of Duty for their alleged failure to act on the order of Balutan to put a stop to the STL operation of former Speedgame President Edward Aguilar.

Aguilar was replaced by Diciano as Speedgame president on 27 August.
Balutan on Feb. 1 directed Aguilar to immediately stop from further operating Speedgame in connection with the STL. All concerned PCSO personnel were also directed to implement the directive.

The PCSO’s order was not followed by Aguilar’s group as it continued to operate STL through Facebook Live.

“After an initial evaluation of the administrative complaint and its supporting documents, this Office finds sufficient basis to warrant preventive suspension of respondent Romero only, pending investigation of this case,” the decision read.

The requisites of the Ombudsman to issue a preventive suspension order are provided in Section 24 of Republic Act 6770 or the Ombudsman Act of 1989 and Section 9 Rule III of Administrative Order 7.