The Philippine National Police (PNP) has dismissed seven police officers in connection with the disappearance of P13 million in cash evidence from a raid on a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Bataan in October 2024.
According to a released general order, a police lieutenant colonel was dismissed effective May 12, 2026, for grave neglect of duty. In a separate special order, a police executive master sergeant, a senior master sergeant, and four patrolmen were also dismissed effective May 13, 2026, found guilty of nine counts of grave misconduct, grave dishonesty, and conduct unbecoming of police officers. All dismissed personnel were members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
The dismissal carries penalties including cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification from government service. The raid was conducted on October 29, 2024, by CIDG operatives and agents of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) under a search warrant for qualified human trafficking.
The loss of cash was discovered in September 2025 after CIDG Chief Robert Alexander Morico II ordered a thorough inventory of all cases and evidence in the unit's custody. The new evidence custodian found that nine boxes containing cash were missing from the inventory list. Investigation revealed that the former CIDG evidence custodian had taken the boxes to his home. The boxes were recovered, but the P13.4 million cash was gone. One of the implicated officers confessed to involvement and identified other accomplices.
Criminal charges, including qualified theft, malversation, falsification of public documents, and others, have been filed against the officers.
