Kidapawan City councilor loses P800K to 'trusted' driver

KIDAPAWAN CITY - City councilor Gregory Yarra thought he was enjoying enough loyalty from his long-time driver until he lost P800,000 cash to his trusted employee, who also took a government vehicle in his escape.

Yarra’s government-issued car, a Toyota Avanza, was found abandoned by policemen in the city's public terminal on Friday.

A manhunt for the councilor's driver, Arthur Manggi, has been launched.

Yarra said he is no longer interested in recovering his P800,000 cash now that the government-owned car issued to him by the city council had been retrieved.

“That’s government property. I must have it back because I can be held accountable if it gets lost,” Yarra said.

Superintendent Leo Ajero, director of the Kidapawan City police, told reporters that Yarra had initially only reported that his driver and the car were missing.

Ajero said Yarra repeatedly tried, but failed to reach Manggi through his mobile phone.

Yarra, already suspicious, discovered later that he also lost P800,000 when he checked his cabinet where he kept the cash in different denominations, after a tedious, fruitless search for Manggi.

Investigators said Manggi had access to Yarra’s bedroom because he enjoyed the councilor’s trust and confidence.

Ajero said Manggi worked for Yarra for six years, before he robbed the councilor and disappeared.