Maid arrested for 'stealing' P160k

CEBU, Philippines - Police arrested a house help who admitted to stealing P160,000 cash from the in-laws of her employer in Beverly Hills, Barangay Lahug last Sunday.

Janice Espera, 28, a native of Barangay Lunas, Asturias town, reportedly blamed another person first before confessing to the police that she was the one who stole the money.

PO3 Edward Escultor of the Theft and Robbery Section, in an interview with The Freeman, said the money was stolen last Saturday evening when the owners, Rufina Tanchan and her son Constantine were out to attend a party.

Early Monday morning, Escultor said they received a call from the Tanchans that Rufina’s P137,000 and Constantine’s P23,000 kept in their respective rooms were missing.

The police officer said the victims had no idea yet who took their money.

Rufina’s cash was placed inside a bag while Constantine’s was in an envelope on his table.

The victims did not lock their doors.

Police conducted ocular inspection in Tanchan’s residence and found out that there was no sign of forced entry from outside.

This prompted the police to interview the four house helps, including Espera, who has been employed for four months now.

Espera’s employer is Rufina’s daughter-in-law, Shiela Tanchan, who lives in a separate house but in the same compound.

During the interview, Espera alleged that last Saturday evening, when she went to Rufina’s house to get water, she saw a woman went outside Rufina’s room and then transferred to Constantine’s room.

Escultor said this prompted them to take Espera to the TRS office where she was interrogated.

She later admitted that she took the money.

She said that after stealing the money, she contacted her relatives, Jennifer Sayson, 32, of Asturias, and Ronald Peña, 29, of Tuburan town.

At 6 a.m. the following day, she gave P100,000 to Sayson and P50,000 to Peña just outside the Tanchan’s residence.

Espera said she hid the remaining P10,000 beneath a flower pot.

The victims, when informed, checked the pot but only found P3,000.

Complaints of qualified theft was filed against the suspect last Monday. — (FREEMAN)