MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has placed under restrictive custody six officers of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) allegedly involved in stealing money seized from a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) raid in Bataan in October 2024, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said.

At a press briefing in Camp Crame, Remulla said a total of PHP141,133,483 was seized during the raid. However, a court on November 19, 2025, ordered the return of the money and other confiscated items after ruling the operation illegal. An inventory revealed that around PHP13.4 million had gone missing.

He said the investigation identified the CIDG officers responsible for the pilferage, with the chain of custody reviewed and verified. “Upon the opening of the evidence, out of PHP141 million, only PHP128 million was left. What was left in the other box was boodle money, fake money,” he explained, referring to the mock currency used in buy-bust operations.

CIDG chief Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico said the raid, conducted with agents from the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) on October 29, 2024, was based on a search warrant for possible qualified human trafficking violations. The seized money had been kept at the CIDG until Morico assumed office in September and ordered a full inventory.

On September 25, the newly designated evidence custodian discovered nine boxes of cash missing from the inventory, later traced to the former CIDG custodian who had taken them home. The boxes were returned to CIDG, remaining sealed with the signature of the presiding judge.

On November 29, 2025, criminal charges were filed against six policemen: Pat. Rolman Andaya (seizing officer), Executive M/Sgt. Erick Castro (investigator), Senior M/Sgt. Michael Camillo (investigator), Pat. Kenji Francisco (evidence custodian), Pat. Jesus Fulgencio, and Pat. Raymark Solas.

They face charges including Qualified Theft (Article 310), Malversation of Public Funds (Article 217), Opening of Closed Documents (Article 228), Falsification of Public Documents (Article 171), and Illegal Possession or Use of False Treasury Notes or Bank Notes (Articles 166 and 168).

Morico added that administrative cases will also target grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of public service, and violations of PNP evidence handling protocols.

Meanwhile, National Police Commission Vice Chairperson Rafael Vicente Calinisan emphasized that the PNP has no tolerance for corrupt officers and commended Morico and acting PNP Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez for proactively uncovering the incident.

Calinisan noted that Napolcom will not intervene in the ongoing investigation and will await the filing of administrative cases.(PNA)