Robbery case filed vs Koronadal ex-employee over missing rice

KORONADAL CITY — The city government here has filed a robbery complaint against a former employee for allegedly stealing rice and other supplies from its warehouse, Mayor Erlinda Araquil said.Araquil said they filed the complaint with the City Prosecutor’s Office last Tuesday against the former employee over the alleged theft of government property from the city’s warehouse.

The case involves the reported loss of 31 bags of rice weighing 10 kilograms each, or a total of 310 kilograms. The City Social Welfare and Development Office was supposed to distribute the rice to barangays.

READ: 6 Manila cops face dismissal over alleged robbery spree – Napolcom chiefAraquil said the complaint includes robbery in a public building under Article 299, paragraph 3, in relation to Article 305 of the Revised Penal Code, as well as alleged violations involving false keys and other forms of trespass under Article 281.The mayor said closed-circuit television footage showed a red tricycle leaving the warehouse area at about 5:30 a.m. on Aug. 31, carrying a garbage bag on top and cartons of bond paper underneath.She said the former employee had surrendered a warehouse key but denied taking the missing rice.

The former employee reportedly claimed that the items taken were old supplies, including paint and matting, that had been set aside while he was still assigned to the General Services Office.Araquil said the city government decided to file the complaint to allow the legal process to proceed and for the former employee to submit a counter-affidavit.

The mayor said other individuals allegedly named by the former employee were also being looked into for possible filing of cases against them.

She urged anyone with evidence of other alleged thefts involving city government property to submit it to authorities./coa