MANILA – Malacañang confirmed that Winston Casio was relieved as spokesperson of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).
According to Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Casio was currently under administrative investigation and was also “ordered to explain actuations in writing.”
Casio was relieved amid the investigation into his alleged mistreatment of a Filipino national following a PAOCC raid of an establishment in Bataan over the weekend.
Casio admitted in an interview with DZBB AM radio on Tuesday morning that he slapped one of the workers and acknowledged that 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,” Casio said.
According to Casio, one of the PAOCC staff and members of the media were cursed and were flashed with a middle finger by some Filipino workers of the raided establishment.
“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.
“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?” he added.
“Sabi niya, ‘Sir ‘yung mag-asawang sampal na lang. Sabi ko pak, pak, okay tapos tayo,” said Casio, who said he slapped the person three times but not “strong.”
Casio 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,” Casio said.
“Pero at the end of the day, no amount— walang justification talaga,” he added./PN
