3 lose cash, valuables to burglar

CEBU, Philippines - At least three administrative staff of a public hospital in Bantayan lost their cash and personal belongings to an unidentified person who sneaked into the hospital in Barangay Ticad Saturday dawn.

The victims, Lotis Lim, Lesley Victoria, and Libeth Tinga, lost a total of P18,150 cash and P10,500 worth of jewelry and other personal belongings.

Police Officer 3 Lou Susvilla, one of the investigating officers, said that the unidentified burglar crept into the administration office of the Bantayan District Hospital by gaining entrance at the damaged portion of the ceiling.

“Naa ma’y portion sa ceiling na nadugta na, possible didto siya ming-agi (there is a portion of the ceiling that was already rotten which the burglar may have used to gain entry),” Susvilla said.

Lim, the hospital’s accountant, lost P12,000 cash, P1,650 worth of check, and a set of earrings worth P2,000.

Victoria also lost P500 cash and beauty products worth P2,500; while Tinga lost P4,000 cash and P6,000 worth of different items.

Susvilla said most of the items stolen were beauty products from a known company, which the victims were selling as their sideline. The cash and items were placed in the respective drawers of the victims.

The unidentified thief was also able to enter the office of hospital chief Rene Desquitado but nothing was found missing in his room. The burglar also tried stealing from the cash vault but failed to open it.

This prompted the police to believe that there was an “inside job” because the burglar knew well what’s inside the office.

The police have invited a construction worker for questioning after the prints found on the floor resembles that of his slippers.

The construction worker works at a construction site annexed to the hospital building.

 “Gi-invite nato siya for questioning, although mi-deny siya. But wa pa nato isya gi-exclude as possible suspect,” Susvilla said.

Meanwhile, a disc jockey who also works as bouncer in a videoke bar is in critical condition after he was stabbed in the neck by a customer using a broken bottle.

The incident happened at 11:00 p.m. last Saturday in Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City.

Fender Quijano, 25, picked a fight with the suspect Julius Abing, 23, when the latter forced the former’s sister to sit with him.

Police Officer 1 Jade Querobin of the Homicide Section of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office narrated that Quijano, a resident of Barangay Maribago, was performing his job as DJ and bouncer at Face videoke bar when his 17-year-old sister Creamer visited him.

PO1 Querobin said that Abing invited the victim’s sister to sit with him but the girl refused.

The suspect grabbed the girl and dragged her to his table. A fight ensued resulting in the victim’s condition.

Abing however was arrested and is now detained at the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office. He will face a criminal complaint today before the prosecutor’s office.  (FREEMAN)