Money vaults of raided Bataan BPO forced open

Stacks of cash in different currencies amounting to at least P12 millions were discovered inside some of the 12 money vaults inside a raided business process outsourcing (BPO) firm Central One Bataan in Bagac.

According to a 24 Oras report by Saleema Refran on Wednesday, authorities initially tried to open the vaults using passwords but were unsuccessful.

Armed with a court order, authorities have begun to open the vaults inside the BPO premises. The proceedings were witnessed by representatives of the police, the Anti Money Laundering Council, the barangay and the BPO.

Bureau of Fire Protection personnel were eventually able to pry open two of the vaults using hydraulic cutters and specialized equipment.

Inside were at least P12 million in cash and several documents.

While the representative for the BPO did not issue any comment, they cooperated with the opening of the vaults

During the initial raid, authorities were able to seize more than P30 million from two opened vaults.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said it is currently conducting an inventory of the vaults’ contents.

“Ito po 'yung pera, [para sa] operations po ito. (This money is for operations.) It's a big company employing 1,600 employees, so this money is used for operations. Again, we are here to cooperate with the authorities,” said Don Chiong, Central One Bataan legal counsel.

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) earlier said it raided the BPO due to alleged labor trafficking and also uncovered an illegal gambling operation.

Bataan Representative Albert Garcia claimed Central One Bataan is a legitimate BPO firm that employs more than a thousand people from the province. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/RF, GMA Integrated News