Car Deals

Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines (AHN) – Filipino Catholic bishops who received money from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Ofice intelligence funds to buy sports utility vehicles said they will return the cars.

The purchase created a controversy because of the clergy’s clash with the Philippine government on various issues such as the reproductive health bill, all while asking the government on the side to finance what are considered luxury vehicles.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines announced the plan on Thursday at its Website following the naming of the bishops involved.

Among those who got money from the lottery agency is Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pubelos, who bought a Mitsubishi Monetero Sport in 2009 with the PCSO fund.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz stressed that what the bishops did was not a crime, but their act of asking and receiving expensive vehicles using government funds shows lack of discernment.

Pueblos, who asked for the expensive car as a birthday gift, said he is willing to return the vehicle and use again a smaller automobile. He added that he is willing to attend an ongoing Senate investigation into the PCSO donations made during the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The bishop, who last month sought the resignation of incumbent Philippine President Benigno Aquino III for alleged incompetence, said he is a victim of character assassination and wants to make a privilege speech before the Senate to clear his name.

Arroyo had been asked by the Senate to explain her side on the controversy.

Former PCSO Chairman Manuel Morato lamented the alleged unfair treatment that the agency’s officials get from the Senate probe on the fund mess.

However, he also dragged current PCSO Chair Margie Juico into the issue by claiming that she tapped the advertising funds of the agency when she was director of PCSO from 2001 to 2005. Morato showed as proof that documents that Juico spent at least $573,000 (PHP 24.5 million) to pay for advertisements of her choice in radio, television and print media.

View full post on All Stories

Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines (AHN) – Filipino Catholic bishops who received money from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Ofice intelligence funds to buy sports utility vehicles said they will return the cars.

The purchase created a controversy because of the clergy’s clash with the Philippine government on various issues such as the reproductive health bill, all while asking the government on the side to finance what are considered luxury vehicles.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines announced the plan on Thursday at its Website following the naming of the bishops involved.

Among those who got money from the lottery agency is Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pubelos, who bought a Mitsubishi Monetero Sport in 2009 with the PCSO fund.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz stressed that what the bishops did was not a crime, but their act of asking and receiving expensive vehicles using government funds shows lack of discernment.

Pueblos, who asked for the expensive car as a birthday gift, said he is willing to return the vehicle and use again a smaller automobile. He added that he is willing to attend an ongoing Senate investigation into the PCSO donations made during the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The bishop, who last month sought the resignation of incumbent Philippine President Benigno Aquino III for alleged incompetence, said he is a victim of character assassination and wants to make a privilege speech before the Senate to clear his name.

Arroyo had been asked by the Senate to explain her side on the controversy.

Former PCSO Chairman Manuel Morato lamented the alleged unfair treatment that the agency’s officials get from the Senate probe on the fund mess.

However, he also dragged current PCSO Chair Margie Juico into the issue by claiming that she tapped the advertising funds of the agency when she was director of PCSO from 2001 to 2005. Morato showed as proof that documents that Juico spent at least $573,000 (PHP 24.5 million) to pay for advertisements of her choice in radio, television and print media.

View full post on All Stories