MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Chairman Erineo Maliksi is no longer reporting for work out of respect for the new chief being eyed by President Rodrigo Duterte. 

This was disclosed by PCSO Vice Chairman and General Manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas II to congressmen during the budget deliberations at the Batasang Pambansa on Tuesday, August 23.  

“Last week or two weeks ago, a chief of staff of a certain alleged appointee to be the chairman of the PCSO talked with our chairman. So I guess with that, he thought, for delicadeza purposes, that he would not be going to the office anymore,” said Rojas.  

He did not disclose who the alleged appointee is.

Maliksi, former Cavite governor, was appointed PCSO chairman on April 20, 2015. 

The Anti-Trapo Movement of the Philippines filed a complaint against him and 7 others before the Office of the Ombudsman for violating several provisions of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. 

Duterte has yet to name the new PCSO head because he “wants a killer” for the position to end reported cases of corruption in the agency.  

In the meantime, Rojas said the PCSO’s board of directors will resign this week following the President’s memorandum for presidential appointees to resign in 7 days.  

Rojas said he is excluded from the order because is a career official of the PCSO. – Rappler.com