PAOCC SPOKESPERSON RELIEVED FROM POST FOR SLAPPING POGO WORKER DURING BATAAN RAID

PRESIDENTIAL Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) spokesperson Winston Casio was relieved from his post after he was caught on video slapping a Filipino worker during a raid on an alleged Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Bagac, Bataan on October 31.

The video footage that circulated on social media show Casio giving the worker three slaps on the face.

Following the incident, the PAOCC issued a memorandum relieving Casio effective immediately until the completion of the ongoing investigation.

In a television interview, Casio said what he did was erroneous. He said the Filipino worker had disrespected the PAOCC staff during the raid.

Prior to the slapping incident, Casio said he warned the worker of potential legal consequences for his actions such as being charged with unjust vexation under the Revised Penal Code, and offered him a choice between facing charges or receiving a “mahinang mag-asawang sampal” (weak pair of slaps).

Casio admitted to giving the worker the “mag-asawa and an apo slap” on the face.

The PAOCC spokesperson apologized after the incident and said he is ready to “face the music” for what he did.

“No wrong can right another wrong; thus, I apologize for reacting as I did despite the provocation that we experienced during the raid we conducted at Central One Bataan last October 31, 2024. I should have simply filed the necessary charges against the person who flashed the dirty finger at us and insulted our office with vitriol,” Casio said in his statement.

The slapping incident occurred during a PAOCC raid on an alleged POGO hub in Bagac, Bataan, which authorities said is involved in black market activities and other illegal operations but the owner claimed to be a business processing outsourcing facility.

The raided POGO hub employs 57 foreigners and 358 Filipino workers.