Lydia Genelaso, a resident of the place, accused her jobless neighbor, a certain Jovanni Nuñez, of stealing her money.
The victim reported the incident to the Carcar Police Station, alleging that Nuñez took the money, which was placed inside a cabinet of her house.
PO3 Reynaldo Fuentes, of the Carcar Police Station, said the incident happened during the observance on All Saints' Day when Genelaso and her family were at the cemetery.
Fuentes said the money was the assistance given to Genelaso following the death of her husband, who was shot by a security guard in Mandaue City.
Genelaso had just received the money last October 31 but could not immediately deposit it to the bank.
Carcar policemen arrested the suspect at a cockpit arena in sitio Luan-Luan, barangay Poblacion 1 during a follow-up operation around 2 p.m. last Thursday.
But police recovered from the suspect only P14,500 of the stolen amount. The suspect, however, admitted to the crime and told police that the recovered amount was what only left after he lost in the cockfighting.
Police also recovered from the suspect the victim's scissor placed inside a small bag. Fuentes said charges for robbery were filed yesterday afternoon against the suspect. - Norvie S. Misa