Over pawned bracelet Mayor orders probe on cops

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has smelled something fishy when the policemen assigned with the Cebu City Police Theft and Robbery Section (TRS) redeemed the jewelry that was reportedly found from used clothing.

The bracelet, estimated to be worth close to P200,000 was pawned at a jewelry shop in barangay Pasil.

The mayor believes it is no longer part of the policemen’s job to do redeem the item.

He instructed Cebu City Police Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe to conduct the investigation to find out the real motive of the policemen who went to the pawnshop in barangay Pasil and paid P750 interest from their personal funds just to take hold of the pure solid gold bracelet.

Until now, the gold bracelet is still in the custody of the TRS policemen headed by Chief Inspector Bonifacio Garciano. Two businessmen in Cebu City claimed ownership of the jewelry, but the policemen required them to present proof of ownership.

“Wala g’yud ko magtoo nga apil pa sa trabaho sa polis ang paglukat sa alahas nga giprenda na sa pawnshop. Unya ila pa g’yud nga kaugalingong kwarta ang gibayad sa interest,” Rama told the City Hall reporters. (I don’t believe redeeming a pawned jewelry is part of their job, and they paid for the interest with their own money.)

Lorelie Pongcol, common-law wife of Orlando Sambilad who saw the gold bracelet from the used clothings that were given to the sidewalk dwellers by the owners of Cathay Hardware in Plaridel Street, pawned the gems at only P50,000 to a pawnshop in Pasil, although the jewelry can be accepted at P100,000.

 A policeman who lives in barangay Pasil informed the TRS that somebody had found a bracelet and pawned it at a jewelry shop because of the possibility that it is part of the loot in a robbery that took place in Pardo.

The police convinced Lorelie to redeem the bracelet and the policemen paid the P750 representing the interest.

Pasil Barangay Councilman Carlito Sabalones said the law provides that whoever finds a movable item, which is not considered treasure as defined by law, must return it to its previous legal possessor. He said if the real owner is unknown, the finder shall immediately deposit it with the mayor or of the city or municipality where the article was found.

The law further provides that the finding of the item shall be publicly announced by the mayor for two consecutive weeks and if nobody can present proof of ownership, the recovered article shall be sold and the finder be awarded. – (FREEMAN)