Nosy Tarsee recently got wind of what appears to be a particularly sneaky attempt at fast money right in the halls of the Palace courtesy of members of the Presidential Management Staff.

The money-making racket started from an innocuous request for an estimate for a 3-day and 2-night group booking for PMS last November at a posh Bataan beach club which has been known as a hideaway of members of the Manila business elite since the idyllic resort is so close to Manila.

On 17 November 2022, the PMS, represented by a Director 3 official contacted the beach club's sales and marketing to negotiate a package for a visit from 30 November to 2 December.

Two PMS representatives discussed with the beach staff details of the accommodation e.g. the number of persons, room-sharing arrangements, amenities, etc.

An offer was made to PMS but it took nine revisions to accommodate the changes in the requirements of the Malacañang office.

On 28 November 2022, a final proposal was sent to PMS, which was worth P1.2 million for 90 people, 31 rooms, seven managed buffet meals, two light snacks plus PMS' additional request for a live band and pica-pica and cocktails. PMS did not request a discount.

Nosy Tarsee found out that instead of seeking a reduction, the lead PMS negotiator inquired if its bill can be padded by P200,000.

The brazenness of the proposal to make the high-end club a party to the pilfering of public funds surprised the resort employee.

It was found out that PMS laid out to the resort staff the fine details of the counter-offer as if it was not the first time that the Malacañang office had embarked on the twin bonanza of vacation plus kickback.

The PMS representative wanted the cut to be reflected in the documentation, including the official receipt apparently for Commission on Audit purposes.

In other words, Nosy Tarsee said it was suggested that PMS will pay the bloated amount (P1.2 million plus P200,000) but the beach resort would reimburse the sting operator the P200,000 in cash.

The requested "cash-back" amount was supposedly for the purchase of "T-shirts" or "raffle items" as told by an insider to Nosy Tarsee.

The resort's employee then told the PMS con artist that the beach club cannot allow itself to be a party to the ruse because an OR should reflect the exact amount of payment that goes to the business, a straight transaction that some in government are oblivious to.

The honest worker said padding the bill will get the company into trouble with its accounting department and with the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

At 10 pm on 28 November 2022, PMS informed the beach club that the deal is off and its reservation was canceled. "It can be inferred that the refusal to give in to the PMS racket was the deal breaker," Nosy Tarsee was told.

The PMS marauders, later on, were found booked at a less conspicuous and comparably spartan beach resort which was about 9 kilometers from the glitzy beach club.

What happened to the PMS' "cash-back" "arrangement" is anybody's guess.