Prove money was stolen, Sinulog officials told

THERE was no evidence that money was stolen from the vault of the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) during the Sinulog, said the lawyer of the security guard accused of taking P1.6 million.

So said Gloria Lastimosa-Dalawampu,  counsel of  security guard Joselyndo Jabagat who was accused of stealing cash and a camera from  the vault of the CCSC administration office two Sundays ago.

Meanwhile,    Sinulog Foundation whose executive director Ricky Ballesteros said a check for P575,000 will be issued to choreographer Victor Cuenco  this week to replace the amount taken from the vault.

The Sinulog Foundation earlier agreed to cover the loss of half a million pesos that formed part of the missing P1.6 million.

The amount covered Cuenco’s P100,000 talent fee and the fees of  performers of the Sinulog Grand Finale.

Ballesteros said they are only waiting for Cuenco to return from Masbate province to claim the check.

Cuenco was in Masbate City over the weekend for a repeat of Placer town’s winning performances in the Jan. 15 Sinulog grand parade.
The P575,000  intended for Cuenco was a refund for the money that he had placed in the vault.
“As much as possible, the city should no longer dole out money for the purpose,” said Mayor Michael Rama. The mayor is on a weeklong private trip out of the country.

Cuenco said he was only waiting for money to be released to him so he could pay those who performed in the grand finale.
Ballesteros said the P575,000 refund would be declared as losses together with the over P800,000 cash that the foundation lost during the robbery in the annual audit of their funds.

The foundation still has sufficient funds in its Fuente Osmeña Allied Bank account, said Ballesteros.

“We can’t say how much cash the foundation has until we complete all cash collectibles. But rest assured we still have money,” Ballesteros said.

Defense lawyer Dalawampu said the crime was  an “inside job” and that the guard had nothing to do with the Jan. 16 burglary.

“I request the police not to file complaints in haste if they don’t have enough evidence to stand the test of probable cause,” Dalawampu said.

She said she will file Jabagat’s counter-affidavit to refute the allegations.

Asst. Prosecutor Gandhi Truya gave Jabagat until Jan. 27 to submit his answer to the qualified theft complaint  filed by the police against him.

“We are preparing our defense. I’m satisfied because there are many loopholes in the complaint,” Dalawampu said.
She said the complaint was filed even if it was not  established that money was lost.
“It was never proven that there was money. Why don’t police start its investigation with the Sinulog Foundation?” Dalawampu said.
(The police complaint was accompanied by an itemized list of cash amounts allegedly missing from the vault, whose door was ripped off and left with nothing inside when staff reported to the sports center on Monday morning, the day after the Sinulog grand parade and finale.

Last Friday, Jabagat’s family sought Dalawampu’s assistance.

“Pity prompted me to accept the case. I will be bothered by my conscience if I decline the request,” the  lawyer said.
Dalawampu said  she won’t ask for payment for her services.

“I’m taking this case as a contribution to the free legal aid program.  This one I love. Although I have a lot of work to do, I will help him (Jabagat) so his rights will be protected,” he said.

She said her client was innocent.

“If he was the one who stole the (perceived) money, he wouldn’t have reported back to work. He would have fled,” Dalawampu said.

Jabagat, a resident of barangay Carreta, Cebu City, worked as a a security guard for 15 years in the center and denied stealing the vault’s contents.

Jabagat earlier told police he fell asleep when the burglary took place.

The National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas conducted  lie detector tests for several sports center staff, including Ballesteros, at the request of the police.

Five persons who were in the area when the incident took place also underwent the polygraph test.

Dalawampu said Jabagat was implicated because it was easy for authorities to accuse a security guard.