Recently, Philippine Justice Minister Jesus Crispin Remulla publicly disclosed in a radio interview, directly pointing out that the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) is suspected of illegally releasing foreign suspects related to POGO, with Executive Director Winston John Casio being accused of "unauthorized" issuance of bail orders. This statement has caused a huge stir in the political arena, raising questions about whether there is a "hidden operation network" in the Presidential Office that protects certain interest groups.
Remulla's accusation: POGO suspects released without investigation, bail procedure suspected of overstepping
Remulla pointed out in the interview that PAOCC recently released POGO personnel involved in cases without conducting proper investigation and evidence collection, and even more so, Casio signed the bail orders privately, allowing the suspects to be bailed out and even deported back to their countries.
"PAOCC has no right to issue bail orders, their duty is to investigate and assist in prosecution, not to directly release suspects." — Remulla
The Justice Minister further revealed that he has reported this matter to the Presidential Secretary General Lucas Bersamin, and both agreed that: PAOCC must first have the capability to investigate and collect digital evidence before they can properly handle related cases, otherwise it is rash action and overstepping of authority.
Focus event: Casio suspected of unauthorized release and "escorting" the deportation of Chinese suspect Wang Yushi
The spark of the controversy was a bail case involving Chinese citizen Wang Yushi. According to internal records of PAOCC, Casio approved Wang Yushi's bail and signed the "voluntary deportation" document without authorization or any investigation, allowing him to board a flight back to China.
Remulla furiously criticized this action:
"Just because the suspect paid a 'bail bond' and wrote a 'guarantee letter', Casio released him? This is a serious violation of legal procedures."
This incident, once exposed, immediately attracted high attention from netizens and the legal community.
"Backed by power" to turn over a new leaf? Casio caught in a whirlwind of public opinion again
Casio has been criticized for controversial actions before. In October 2023, a video of him slapping a detained suspect during a raid on POGO went viral on social media, sparking widespread condemnation. Although he was subsequently removed from his spokesperson position, he returned to his job just a few months later.
It is reported that his reinstatement was conditioned on apologizing to the victims in public and in court, without needing to bear any civil compensation. Some media believe that Casio's repeated escapes from consequences, despite his unchanging behavior, might be related to his strong political backing.
Now facing direct questioning from the Justice Minister, the outside world is eagerly asking: Can Casio come out unscathed this time?
POGO regulatory dilemma: Who has the final say on bail?
The Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) have always been a sensitive area in the country's security and governance. In recent years, there have been frequent outbreaks of:
Illegal detention, fraud, human trafficking, and other serious cases;
Foreign employees (mostly Chinese) suspected of illegal activities;
Law enforcement agencies "all bark and no bite", with ineffective crackdowns.
In this context, as a presidential anti-organized crime agency, PAOCC's actions should be more rigorous. However, now there are reports of procedural violations and "shortcut" bail operations, once again raising doubts about whether the Philippines' crackdown on POGO chaos is "all bark and no bite".
Commentary: Blurred lines between judicial and administrative powers, can anti-corruption efforts be genuine?
Remulla's revelations point out a long-standing issue: overlap and lack of supervision between some of the Philippines' law enforcement and administrative units, coupled with politically influenced personnel arrangements, allowing certain officials to operate freely and avoid accountability in the system's "gray areas".
If this case is left unresolved, it may further undermine public trust in the judicial system and turn POGO into a gray space for political power and money transactions.
The outside world is watching: Can the Justice Minister's challenge this time shake the "unwritten rules within the high walls"?
