Winston John Casio has been reinstated as spokesperson of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) after settling with a complainant over a past misconduct incident.
“Now everything is back. I’m technically back as spokesperson. I’m the director in charge of media and public relations,” Casio told Palace reporters on Wednesday.
Casio said the resolution of the case required him to issue a public apology.
“There are no civil damages to be honest. The agreement was, first, I had to apologize to him in public, in court, in open session,” he explained.
Casio also disclosed that he had undergone medical treatment for anger management issues and assured the public that he had received medical clearance to return to work.
He was previously relieved from his post in November 2024 following an investigation into his alleged mistreatment of an individual during a PAOCC operation in Bataan.
The Office of the Executive Secretary announced his suspension after videos circulated on social media showing him assaulting a man who had cursed at government officials and media during a raid at Central One in Bagac, Bataan, on October 31, 2024.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin confirmed at the time that Casio was “under administrative investigation” and had been directed to submit a written explanation of his actions.
PAOCC Executive Director Gilberto Cruz issued a memorandum requiring Casio to respond within 24 hours, warning that failure to do so would be considered a waiver of his right to explain.
The PAOCC-led operation targeted an alleged illegal POGO (Philippine offshore gaming operator) hub, with authorities suspecting the facility was involved in love scams, cyberscams, and online gambling.
The raid uncovered dormitories and six buildings used for various operations, with units from the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group assisting in the enforcement.
Casio later admitted to slapping one of the workers during the operation and acknowledged that his actions were inappropriate.