Dr. Winston John Casio (left), Senior Technical Adviser of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, attends a Senate hearing on June 26, 2024. Senate PRIB 

MANILA -- The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) confirmed Tuesday that its spokesperson Winston Casio was relieved from his post as he faced an investigation for allegedly slapping a worker of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO). 

In a memorandum, PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz ordered Casio to explain his alleged "mistreatment" of the Filipino worker of the POGO in Bagac, Bataan during a raid on Oct. 31. A footage of the incident was circulating on social media, the Nov. 4 memo noted. 

It instructed Casio to submit his written explanation within 24 hours. 

"Furthermore, you are hereby relieved of your responsibilities as spokesperson for PAOCC effective immediately and until the completion of this investigation," the memo added. 

'NAGKAMALI PO TALAGA AKO' 

Casio explained that during the Oct. 31 raid, the Filipino POGO workers were told that they could go home "because we could not possibly hold 950 Filipinos in our detention facility."

PAOCC: Bataan POGO engaged in scamming, human trafficking

This announcement was followed by "raucous and rowdy" cheers from the workers, Casio said. He said he sent a PAOCC staff member to check the situation but a POGO worker allegedly swore at the officer and flashed his middle finger.

Casio said he summoned the POGO worker and reprimanded him for disrespecting PAOCC. He said he gave the worker two choices: face a complaint for unjust vexation or receive two slaps.

"Sabi ko, 'Sige hindi kita kakasuhan, pero bibigyan kita ng mahinang mag-asawang sampal.' Sabi niya, 'Sir, yung sampal na lang.' So sinampal ko siya, mag-asawa, pak pak. Ang problema, nabigyan ko pa ng apo, naging tatlo," Casio told TeleRadyo Serbisyo.

The official acknowledged that his actions were wrong.

"Nagkamali po talaga ako doon, in all honesty and fairness, uminit ang ulo ko doon," Casio told TeleRadyo Serbisyo.

"Mali talaga yung ginawa ko and I'm willing to face the music," he added.

Casio said that while he was considering resigning from his post, "At the end of the day, I've got a much bigger mandate."

"We have been called to put an end to this scamming activities. If I do put my head on the platter, that is basically saying that I have allowed the errant, the scammers out there to win," the official said.

"Alam naman natin na this is a concerted effort to demolish not just me, but the commission," he said.

The online gambling industry has been linked to financial scams, kidnapping, prostitution, human trafficking, torture and murder.

Inside the dark world of Philippine scam centers

President Ferdinand Marcos outlawed the sector on July, saying "the grave abuse and disrespect to our system of laws must stop", and foreign workers involved have been given two months to leave the Philippines.

Marcos: 'Effective today, all POGOs are banned'

-- With a report from Agence France-Presse