Cebu City police arrested a subdivision employee accused of stealing P400,000 in payroll money.
A charge of qualified theft will be filed against Louie Rosales, 19, who surrendered to the police a day after the theft was discovered.
Rosales worked as a purchaser of Camella Homes based in Gorordo Avenue in Cebu City.
Of the stolen amount, P301,000 was recovered.
Rosales said he was tempted to steal because of the huge amount.
He said he planned to leave the company because his co-workers were rude to him.
The theft was reported to the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) on Friday night.
PO1 Dennis Labra contacted Rosales by phone and was able to convince him to surrender.
Rosales showed up at the office about 9 a.m. yesterday and led the police to a hotel in Juan Luna Street where he checked in after the theft.
Police found P301,000 cash under a bed in the hotel room.
Rosales said he already spent a portion of the stolen money.
Randy Badayos, site engineer of Camella Homes, said they were surprised by the incident since they knew Rosales as a good employee.
Rosales had been in the company for six months./CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON