The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday relieved six Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) personnel and placed them under restrictive custody for allegedly stealing money seized in a Bataan operation.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla said eight officers were identified in the alleged cover-up and pilferage of cash taken during an October 2024 raid on a suspected Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators hub in Bagac, Bataan.
CIDG chief Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II said officers had seized ₱141 million in the operation, but only ₱128 million remained when the court later ordered the money returned.
The missing amount was discovered on Nov. 20, 2025, when the CIDG returned the funds and investigators found the rest had been replaced with fake “boodle” money.
Six officers, including Lt. Col. Jose Joey Arandia and several enlisted personnel, now face criminal and administrative charges, including qualified theft and falsification of public documents.
