After giving money, TV host donates cars to bishops

MANILA, July 21, 2011— After donating cash yesterday, television host Willie Revillame is giving two new vehicles for the charity work of some Catholic dioceses.

Lawyer Romulo Macalintal said that Revillame is donating one Foton 15-seater van and one Foton pick-up car.

“Revillame is making the donation to show his deep concern for the needs of our bishops,” Macalintal said.

Yesterday, the television personality also donated P100,000 to a fund drive that will be used to buy utility vehicles for some dioceses.

The total donation has already reached P1.5 million as of July 21, nine days after the fund raising campaign was launched.

Macalintal and former Mayor Lito Atienza are leading the fundraising drive for the seven bishops who were maligned over the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) donations controversy.

Last week, the prelates, four from Mindanao and three Northern Luzon dioceses, returned the utility vehicles which they bought from PCSO donations in 2009.

The decision was made after the current PCSO administration told media that former President Gloria Arroyo distributed “luxury vehicles for personal use” of some bishops for political reasons.

The prelates, however, clarified that what they got were not luxury cars but utility vehicles for Church-operated missions. [CBCPNews]