Calungsod chapel robbery, Logbook clears guards…for now

CEBU, Philippines - As far as the logbook of the San Pedro Calungsod Chapel shows, the guards did not enter the chapel when the P100,000 in cash and checks was stolen from where it was kept in the chapel basement.

Chief Insp. William Alicaba, head of the Cebu City Police Office Theft and Robbery Section, said they initially found out that chapel guards Lemuel Cuesta, Raymund Tanelon and Wilfredo Talisic were not around when the crime took place.

“Tanang moves sa gwardiya sud sa chapel are put into writing gyud, kung kinsa’y mu-sud and what time mu-sud ug mugawas,” said Alicaba.

The four other potential suspects, Alicaba said, include two nuns, who have duplicate keys to the quarters where the cash was kept, the chapel’s secretary and a janitor. They were invited for questioning yesterday afternoon.

But the TRS chief clarified they are still not totally discounting the guards as innocent as they still believe that the burglary was an inside job.

“Wa ta kahibaw sad nga ang gwardiya naa’y gipa-duplicate na yawi sa gawas,” Alicaba theorized.

Ocular investigation at the crime scene showed that the robber destroyed the doorknob leading to the quarters where the cash was kept, said Alicaba.

“Dunay force gi-employ pag-guba but dili gyud sa pagpanglungkab itself…Mahimo man sad nga diversion lang ang pag-gubaguba sa doorknob. Weak ra gyud ang doorknob,” he added.

At least P100,000 in cash and some checks were discovered missing from the drawer at the San Pedro Calungsod chapel at the South Road Properties in Barangay Mambaling last Sunday morning.

The amount was from christenings and weddings held at the chapel last week and was supposed to be deposited last Monday. –(FREEMAN)