7 PNP-CIDG MEN DISMISSED FROM SERVICE OVER MISSING P13-M EVIDENCE MONEY

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has dismissed seven police officers from service over the disappearance of P13 million in evidence money seized following a raid on a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Bataan in October 2024.

Under a PNP General Order, the leader of the CIDG unit with the rank of lieutenant colonel  was dismissed effective May 12, 2026 for grave neglect of duty.

In a separate special order, the six others composed of a police executive master sergeant, a senior master sergeant and four patrolmen were dismissed effective May 13 for nine counts of grave misconduct, grave dishonesty and conduct unbecoming of police officers.

The dismissal also carried penalties including cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification from re-employment in government service.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said that the law will be applied to the accused policemen amid their intensified internal cleansing campaign.

The raid was conducted on Oct. 29, 2024 by combined CIDG and  Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission  (PAOCC) agents   on the strength of a search warrant issued by a court amid findings regarding  qualified human trafficking violations by the Chinese-run POGO company-turned “scam farm.”

The missing evidence money came to light in September 2025 after CIDG chief Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II, then newly appointed, ordered a comprehensive inventory of all cases and evidence under the unit’s custody.

As a result, the PNP-CIDG’s newly-designated evidence custodian discovered that nine boxes containing cash were missing from the inventory list. 

An investigation later revealed that the former CIDG evidence custodian had taken the boxes home.

The nine boxes were eventually returned to CIDG headquarters, but a subsequent inventory showed that P13.45 million in cash was missing.

One of the implicated police officers later admitted involvement in the pilferage and identified several alleged accomplices.

Criminal cases including qualified theft, malversation, falsification of public documents and illegal possession or use of false treasury or bank notes were filed against the police officers involved.