(VACC president Boy Evangelista shows VACC Board Resolution expelling Pyra Lucas from their group. Photo by Bong Lacson)
CLARK FREEPORT – A self-styled anti-corruption crusader has been expelled from the very organization which she claimed to represent, ironically, for corruption.
Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) president Arsenio “Boy” Evangelista met the press here on Tuesday where he announced Pyra Lucas’ expulsion from their group. He added that VACC Board Resolution No. 3, which was unanimously signed by the Trustees earlier this month, formalized Lucas’ banishment from the VACC.
Evangelista said Lucas has “seriously and utterly undermined and violated the basic principles and policies of the organization (VACC) to fight crime and corruption and to support and assists the victims.”
The VACC Board Resolution said, Lucas is “prohibited, banned and barred from representing herself as member and regional coordinator of the organization, from using and invoking VACC in any and all her activities or endeavors, and from acting and representing in behalf of the organization, its officers and members.”
Lucas’ expulsion and ban stemmed from a complaint filed with VACC by the spouses Rurik Paul and Erlinda Santos who were “offered” by Lucas “her services to facilitate the favorable and expeditious disposition of the Petition for Review filed by their son, Rurik Earl, pending before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for rape and requested P2,200,000.00. for said purpose.”
The VACC resolution said, the total amount of P1.2 million was in fact received by Lucas on three occasions, July 24, August 22 and September 11, 2017.
Evangelista said Lucas allegedly name-dropped top DOJ officials to gain favor from the Santoses.
Evangelista said the Santoses allegedly made numerous demands to Lucas for the favorable and expeditious disposition of the case of their son after a lapsed of time. But the said petition was later denied by the DOJ.
The allegations against Lucas were reportedly corroborated by Andy Magno and Mary Ann Tabuzo who are both members of the VACC and were the ones who introduced Lucas to the Santos couple during the VACC general assembly in Camp Crame in July 2017.
During a meeting of the VACC Board on February 10, Lucas claimed that she merely extended her assistance to the Santoses and that she acted in her personal capacity and not as a member or officer of the VACC or in behalf of VACC. She also said she would return the amount of P1.2 million to the Santoses as she did not benefit from the money she got from them. She also said she would consider resigning from the VACC.
But in a letter on February 28, VACC chair Socorro “Cory” Quirino and Evangelista directed Lucas to submit her formal reply to the complaints against her. But Lucas failed to submit her answer.
Lucas also failed to return the money she received from the Santoses.
The failure of Lucas to submit her answer despite due notice “is deem a waiver her right to submit her defense and resolves the that the case be decided based on available evidence.”
Evangelista also assailed Lucas for not informing the VACC of her filing of a certificate of candidacy for city councilor of Mabalacat City in Pampanga.
“The VACC remains a non-government organization, is non-political and is an apolitical organization,” he said.
Evangelista said the VACC’s expulsion of Lucas is without prejudice to the filing of appropriate cases against her.
