PAOCC spokesman axed for slapping worker

After getting caught in a viral video slapping a Filipino worker during a raid last week at a suspected Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Bataan, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) spokesman Winston John Casio was relieved from his post on Monday, pending an investigation of the incident.

- EMMANUEL TUPAS

Gilbert Cruz, PAOCC executive director, sacked Casio as their agency's mouthpiece and has ordered an investigation of the incident which occurred last Oct. 31 at Central One, a business process outsourcing (BPO) company in Bagac, Bataan, suspected to be a POGO.

Cruz directed Casio to submit a written explanation within 24 hours about his actions against the worker.

The former spokesman issued a public apology yesterday following his removal from office.

In an interview with TeleRadyo Serbisyo, Casio acknowledged that his actions were wrong.

"I was really wrong there, in all honesty and fairness, my temper flared," he said in Filipino. "What I did was very wrong and I'm willing to face the music."

In the 40-second video, Casio was seen admonishing a man, while seven other men watched. He then grabbed the man, who works as a janitor for Central One, before slapping him twice on the face.

Another man then touched the victim from the back and appeared to instruct him to stand straight as Casio kept on berating him.

The video ended with Casio slapping the man a third time.