MANILA - Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board member Sandra Cam on Wednesday linked the agency's top officials with businessman Bong Pineda, who is allegedly behind operations of the illegal numbers game jueteng.

Cam, who claims she was appointed to the board by President Rodrigo Duterte to clamp down on corruption at the PCSO, said Pineda backs PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan and former Chairman Jose Jorge Corpuz.

"Kitang kita na ang conspiracy between the General Manager and the gambling lords. 'Wag niyang sabihin na hindi niya alam na itong mga franchisee ng STL (small town lottery), ang nasa likod ay mga gambling lords. Tell it to the Marines," she told lawmakers investigating controversies surrounding the PCSO.

"Kung gusto niyo pangalanan ko na ‘tong gambling lord na nagpo-protekta sa kanila… It’s Bong Pineda," said Cam, a former jueteng whistleblower.

Pineda, husband of Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda, operates his gambling business in Bulacan, Pampanga, Camarines Sur, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Zambales, and Sorsogon, Cam alleged.

"Pinagloloko tayo. Ang ano ko dito 'yung anti-corruption campaign ng ating Pangulo," she said.

"GM Balutan, I am not interested [in] your seat nor the chairmanship because the President has his own orders to me. You have to use your head why I’m there... I'm interested in your corruption," she added.

Gov. Pineda's information officer told ABS-CBN News the official has no comment on Cam's allegation.

ABS-CBN News is also seeking Mr. Pineda's reaction to the issue.

Camarines Sur Rep. L-Ray Villafuerte said he also believes it is Mr. Pineda who is operating in his province because before the businessman started his operations last year, the latter called for a meeting with the mayors.

Earlier in the hearing, Villafuerte said authorized agent corporation Evenchance continues to run jueteng games in the guise of small town lottery (STL) games.

He alleged that the gaming firm allows minors to place and collect bets outside authorized stations.

"If he is not the true owner of Evenchance, ano namang papel niya na pagpatawag sa mga mayor, magpapa-operate daw siya?," he said.

"This is against the [Anti-]Dummy Law. Dummy po 'yan at nakalagay sa IRR (implementing rules and regulations) na bawal 'yan," he added.

Balutan said the agency forwarded the reported violations to the Philippine National Police and that the case against Evenchance is now in the courts.

"We are not tolerating that. After the last congressional hearing last December, we summoned the PNP and asked them to investigate this because as far as we are concerned, kami po ay walang law enforcement authority," he said.

Cam had tagged Balutan and other PCSO executives in other alleged irregularities, including mounting a lavish multimillion Christmas party for the agency in December.

Balutan defended the P6.3-million affair, saying the PCSO was authorized to spend P14 million for the holiday event.

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