Cash falls into wrong hands

CEBU, Philippines - A woman lost P32,876 after the money, which her fiancé sent from Great Britain last week was delivered to another person who allegedly claimed to be her apartment’s caretaker.

The 39-year-old victim who requested anonymity sought help from the Cebu City Theft and Robbery Section yesterday. She said depression has been haunting her since she lost the money and her fiancé, also a Filipino, was admitted to the hospital after learning what had happened.

The money, the woman said, was supposed to cover the rent of their apartment in Barangay Apas, which they have failed to pay for the past two months.

“We were already asked by our caretaker to vacate our room. I still don’t have a work so I fail to pay the rent until now,” the victim said who is a native of Quezon City, Metro Manila.

She said she arrived with a friend in Cebu City two months ago with hopes to start a new life after she left the convent. She was a nun for 10 years.  

When their caretaker gave her the warning on the apartment, she asked help from her fiancé who immediately sent the money through a money transfer service, which offers door-to-door delivery.

“Because he (fiancé) was in a hurry, he addressed the money directly to the owner of the compound where I am staying,” she said. 

The money was addressed to one Clifford Chua, the owner of the compound where the apartment is situated, but was sent through the compound caretaker Ariel Degamo.

Based on the money transfer records dated May 15, Degamo signed the receipt proving that the money was successfully delivered to its receiver. However, Degamo denied receiving the money, stressing that the signature reflected on the copy of the transaction receipt was not his. He supported his claim by showing samples of his signatures to the police.

She said they are eying the possibility that someone from their own compound got the money.

Investigators are now looking for the messenger who delivered the money to identify the culprit.  (FREEMAN)