DepEd warehouse loses P.2-M supplies to thieves

The Department of Education (DepEd) warehouse in Pasig City lost more than P250,000 worth of ink cartridges and toners to thieves the other day, according to Eastern Police District (EPD) officials.

Police said utility man Danilo Tribiana, 40, assigned to the DepEd’s property division, reported the incident yesterday to the EPD’s Criminal Investigation Division.

Tribiana discovered the break-in at around 8:30 a.m. last Thursday, but he reported the incident only yesterday after the staff completed an inventory of items inside the warehouse.

Investigators said Tribiana informed security guards in the area of a possible break-in after seeing the destroyed padlock of the warehouse door.

"The padlock of the door was on the ground and the door was pried open," Tribiana told CIU chief Senior Inspector Alfredo Paneda.

A subsequent inventory revealed that at least 148 ink cartridges and toners worth P259,200 were missing.

Paneda said it would be difficult for forensic experts to lift fingerprints from the warehouse since the crime scene was already contaminated.

" If DepEd personnel had reported the incident to us when they first discovered the break-in, we could send a team to lift fingerprints in the area," he said.

Police are inviting other possible witnesses, saying they are looking into the possibility that it was an "inside job." – Non Alquitran