Casino guard yields to cops

CEBU, Philippines - The proverbial long arm of the law caught up with the casino security officer, who ran away with an estimated P2.8 million last month.

Pascual Urian, Jr., 29, who worked as a security officer of the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) satellite casino in a mall located in Mandaue City, turned himself in to the police in Panay town, Capiz last Thursday.

Police were closing in

Urian has been hiding from the law since the daring theft at the casino where he allegedly ran away with a bagful of money from the vault.

Urian, reportedly, decided to turn himself in as he felt that the police have been closing in on him. He also turned over P1.483 million.

Chief Insp. George Ylanan, head of the Regional Special Operation Group of the Police Regional Office-7 and Supt. Harry Domingo, deputy chief of the Regional Intelligence Division went to Panay town Thursday night and brought Urian to Cebu. They arrived yesterday morning at the Mactan Cebu International Airport.

Ylanan said that the suspect decided to surrender as police have been looking for him through his parents, relatives, and even his girlfriends.

“Ning-gamay na man iyang kalibutan, di na siya kalihok. Hasta iyang ginikanan ug mga relatives nahasol kay gi-balik-balikan man namo ug adto,” (His world has been getting smaller and he could not move around. Even his parents and relatives have been bothered as we have been going back to them often) Ylanan said.

After the July 14 incident, Ylanan said a police team was sent to Urian’s father in Mandaue City and another team went to V. Rama where his relatives reside.

The RSOG chief said they even sent a team to Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte after finding out on popular social networking site Facebook that the suspect had a girlfriend living there.

A team led by Chief Insp. Michael Anthony Bastes, head of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch of the Mandaue City Police Office, was also sent to Bohol where Urian’s mother and another girlfriend live.

Ylanan said that they also coordinated with the Panay Police after learning that it is Urian’s birthplace.

Urian surrendered to the police accompanied by his brother Michael and a relative, who is a policeman.

He turned himself in to Panay police chief Insp. Bryan Palera.

Urian earlier said that he would not allow himself to be caught alive as he believes that he would just be summarily executed. Due to this fear, Ylanan assured the suspect of his safety, which is why they personally fetched him.

Reason?

Urian was presented to the media at the headquarters of PRO-7, but he refused to say anything.

Bastes said Pascual must have been prompted to steal the money because of his addiction to electronic games and illegal drugs.

“Nakalitan ra daw siya maong iyang gikuha ang kwarta. Utangan sad na siya tungod anang iyang electronic games unya musuyop sad,” (He just got carried away, which is why he took the money. He owes a lot due to electronic games and he is also into drugs) Bastes told The FREEMAN.

How he fled

Ylanan said that Urian ran towards the interior portion of the Mandaue Reclamation Area after he took off with the money and blew past the security guards of the casino. It was only when he a few hundred meters away that he hailed a taxicab.

Urian denied the reports that he threw away a wad of money so people would scamper to get part of the loot and prevent pursuing law enforcers from following him.

He said that the wad of money just fell off the plastic bag, which he used to stash the cash.

He also said that he got bitten by a dog before he managed to hail a cab.

The suspect told police that he first went to Barangay Lorega-San Miguel, Cebu City where he played the illegal video karera and took drugs.

After four hours in Lorega, Urian reportedly went to Pasil and Colon before he took a bus for Bato, Oslob. From Bato, he traveled towards Dumaguete and then finally to Panay.

Urian was brought to the MCPO headquarters where he will be detained.

Police Skills

Chief Supt Marcelo Garbo, director of PRO-7, said, “This specific case of Urian shows the skills of the police.”

Garbo also cited recent accomplishments of the police force like the arrest of Junjun Cabando alias Dionisio Cabatingan, the alleged leader of the robbery gang involved in last year’s botched heist at an uptown mall.

Renato Osmeña, Jr., satellite casino manager, thanked the police.

He said that the incident serves as an awakening for Pagcor to improve their monitoring and intensify background inspection on employees. — /NLQ - THE FREEMAN