Palace leaves probe on PCSO’s Cam to Ombudsman

MALACAÑANG ON Monday said it will not be conducting an investigation on Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Board Member Sandra M. Cam’s alleged undeclared properties, saying that she is already being probed by the Ombudsman. Detained Senator Leila M. de Lima last Sunday challenged President Rodrigo R. Duterte to fire Ms. Cam for allegedly “amassing properties worth hundreds of millions of pesos, including an island.” “I dare you, Mr. President, to fire Sandra Cam or at least order a bona fide investigation into her alleged amassing of properties worth hundreds of millions of pesos, including an island,” she said in a statement. Sought for comment at a news conference at the Palace on Monday, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo said “From what I understand, somebody has already filed a case in the Ombudsman. So that’s the Ombudsman call now… the Ombudsman has the power to suspend, I think we will let it do the process,” he explained. “We will not be duplicating any investigation.” — Arjay L. Balinbin