How the Theft Was Exposed

According to the news, the issue surfaced in November when a court ruled that the original search warrant used in the operation was improper and ordered that the seized funds be returned to their owners. When officers opened the evidence boxes, they discovered a significant shortage: only PHP 128 million (USD 2.25 million) remained out of the PHP 141 million (USD 2.48 million) originally confiscated. Another evidence box contained fake bills instead of real cash.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) launched an internal investigation. DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said investigators had identified the six officers allegedly involved, including the custodian responsible for maintaining the evidence.

Investigation and Custody Status

Police Major General Robert Morico II, Acting Director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, confirmed that all six officers have been placed under restrictive custody as the investigation continues.

Criminal and Administrative Charges

The officers are facing multiple criminal charges, including:

• Qualified theft

• Malversation of public funds

• Opening of sealed documents

• Falsification of public documents

• Illegal possession or use of counterfeit banknotes

Administrative cases have also been filed.

POGO Context: Enforcement During Industry Shutdown

The incident comes as the Philippine government is ordering all POGO operations to cease by the end of 2024, citing links to criminal activity, regulatory violations, national security concerns, tax noncompliance, and a series of high-profile criminal cases.

Evidence Integrity and Public Trust

The apparent theft of evidence within a controlled chain of custody raises broader concerns about internal police accountability, especially during heightened enforcement against POGO-related offenses.