In a significant internal scandal, several officers from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) have been relieved from their duties following the disappearance of P13 million in cash evidence seized from a notorious illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) hub in Bagac, Bataan, back in 2024.
The Raid and the Initial Discovery
The case came to light during a press conference held on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, by CIDG acting director Police Major General Robert Alexander Morico II. He detailed that on October 29, 2024, CIDG operatives conducted a raid on Central One Bataan, resulting in the confiscation of a total of P141,133,483 in cash. This seized money was properly counted, documented, and sealed under court order.
Morico explained that Lieutenant Colonel Jose Joey Arandia was appointed as the official cash evidence custodian for the CIDG on June 5, 2025. However, during a personnel reshuffle within the unit in September, Morico ordered a recount of all cash evidence holdings. It was during this audit that a major discrepancy was uncovered.
Evidence Taken Home and a Partial Return
The investigation revealed that Lieutenant Colonel Arandia had taken the boxes containing the cash from the Central One Bataan raid to his private residence, a clear violation of protocol. Following the discovery, Arandia returned the boxes on October 21, 2025. While the returned amount was over P141 million, a subsequent court-ordered turnover to a company representative in November exposed a glaring shortfall.
A total of P13 million was missing from the original seized sum. This prompted a deeper probe into the custodians and officers involved in handling the evidence.
Confessions and Allegations of Theft
The breakthrough came when one of the seizing officers and an assigned cash guard, Patrolman Kristian Nards Andaya, confessed to his involvement. In a sworn affidavit, Andaya admitted to taking P4.5 million from the missing P13 million.
Furthermore, Andaya implicated several of his colleagues, tagging them in the scheme. According to his statement, the following officers also received portions of the stolen cash:
- Police Executive Master Sergeant Erick Castro – P2.3 million
- Police Staff Master Sergeant Michael Camillion – P2.3 million
- Patrolman Kenji Francisco – P2.3 million
- Patrolman Jesus Fulgencio – P1.3 million
- Patrolman Raymark Solas – P1.3 million
The swift relief of the involved officers underscores the CIDG's move to address the breach of trust and potential criminal activity within its ranks. The incident raises serious questions about evidence handling procedures and internal safeguards against corruption within law enforcement units tasked with high-stakes operations.
