Bersamin says Winston Casio relieved as PAOCC spox

The Office of the Executive Secretary said Tuesday that Winston Casio was relieved as spokesperson of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin told Palace reporters that Casio was under administrative investigation.

He was also ''ordered to explain actuations in writing.''

This came amid the investigation into his alleged mistreatment of a Filipino national following the raid of the PAOCC in an establishment in Bataan over the weekend.

The footage of the incident has reportedly been circulating on social media.

In the memorandum dated November 4, 2024 addressed to Casio, he was tasked to explain the October 31 incident wherein he was allegedly involved in the ''mistreatment'' of a Filipino during an execution of search warrant in Bagac, Bataan.

''Your immediate response is crucial, as it will significantly influence the Office's consideration of any subsequent actions,'' the memorandum, signed by PAOCC executive director Gilbert Cruz, read.

Casio apologizes

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Casio apologized for slapping one of the workers, saying it was wrong to do so.

“Admittedly naman po mali ako doon sa aking ginawa. Pero sabi ko naman sa explanation letter na binigay ko po kahapon, I'm willing to face the music kasi mali din naman talaga,” he said.

(I admit that what I did was wrong. But I said in my explanation letter that I gave yesterday that I am willing to face the music because it was really wrong of me.)

Casio explained that one of their staff and members of the media were cursed by some Filipino workers of the raided establishment.

He said the media and their staff identified the individual who gave them the finger.

Following this, Casio told the individual that he will charge them with unjust vexation.

“Sabi ko nga, ang binastos mo, hindi ‘yung staff, hindi ‘yung bata. This is a legitimate operation. Nung dinirty finger mo kami, ang dinirty finger mo is the PAOCC… headed by the President of the Republic of the Philippines,” Casio said.

(I told him that he disrespected not the staff, but the operation. This is a legitimate operation. When he gave us the dirty  finger, he did that to PAOCC… headed by the President of the Republic of the Philippines.)

However, Casio said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group appealed to him not to file charges. He then brought the individual to the clinic to talk to him.

“Sabi ko naman doon sa tao, sa Filipino, pare mahinang mag-asawang sampal na lang para hindi ka na namin kasuhan. Willing ka ba doon? Unjust vexation or mahinang mag-asawang sampal?” Casio said.

(I told the Filipino, I could give you a slap so we won’t charge you. Are you will? Do you want to be charged with unjust vexation or hit?)

“Sabi niya, sir ‘yung mag-asawang sampal na lang. Sabi ko pak, pak, okay tapos tayo,” he added.

(He said he preferred being slapped. So I did it and I said, okay, we’re done.)

Casio said he slapped the person three times but not that it was not “strong.”

“Pero at the end of the day, I still apologize. That is erroneous on my part. Dapat po tinuloy ko na lang ‘yung kaso,” he said

(But at the end of the day, I still apologize. That is erroneous on my part. I should have just continued the case.)

‘No justification’

Casio said what he did was a “personal mistake” and does not reflect on the PAOCC.

“Rest assured that what happened was a personal mistake and it does not in any way reflect on the organization that I represent,” Casio said in a separate interview.

He also said this was not the first time that government personnel were harassed during operations.

“Halos lagi naman po nababastos naman kami. Nagkataon lang nung mga panahon na iyon, hindi ko talaga nagustuhan ‘yung middle finger. The usual na pang babastos lang ‘yung mga salita, mga ganyan, mga glares,” he said.

(We’re almost always disrespected. It just so happened that at that time, I truly didn’t like the middle finger. It was just usually insults and glares.)

“Pero at the end of the day, no amount— walang justification talaga,” he added.

(But at the end of the day, there’s no justification for what I did.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News