The Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday said that the over P300 million cash taken during separate operations against Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hubs in Las Piñas City and Pampanga are intact and in police safekeeping.
PNP spokesperson and Public Information Office chief, Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo issued the statement to respond to some reports that the monies confiscated in the raids are missing.
In a press briefing at Camp Rafael Crame, Farjardo said that the PNP is ready to turn over the monies if ordered by any court.
“There is no truth to the malicious reports that the money is missing. These are considered fruits of the crime so the case is pending and the PNP would comply with the competent court as to the proper disposal of these seized evidence,” she said.
“If the court would say that these should be turned over to the Department of Justice, the PNP is more than willing to turn over the monies. If the court would issue orders to return the money, then the PNP will comply,” Fajardo told reporters.
She also said that the misinformation on the seized money at the two illegal POGO hubs is possibly meant to muddle the issue on the anti-illegal POGO operation conducted by the police in Malate, Manila last month.
“The money is intact. It just so happened there are efforts to muddle the issue of our legitimate operation against Vertex Technologies,” she said.
Fajardo, however, did not say who was trying to muddle the issue.
Based on the PNP report, PHP187.82 million were seized during the operation at the Clark Freeport POGO hub in May last year, while PHP117.18 million were seized during the operation on a POGO hub in Las Piñas City in July, also last year.
The heads of the National Capital Region Police Office and the PNP’s Anti-Cybercrime Group were already administratively relieved for 10 days to give way to the conduct of an impartial investigation.
