CHARGES were filed in court yesterday against the jail guard, allegedly responsible for the April 25 loss of 35 sacks of rice stored at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) in barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City.
The Cebu City Prosecutors’ Office found probable cause to indict Antonieto Babor on charges of qualified theft. Bail was recommended at P60,000. However, Babor is still at large.
“Respondent (Babor) had been designated as custodian of the subject stocks of rice. By such designation, it is apparent that a high degree of confidence was reposed upon him,” said Assistant City Prosecutor Alex Gabud in his resolution.
Gabud said Babor had the obligation to protect and preserve the stocks of rice.
“The consequent act of the respondent of taking the said stocks of rice with intent to gain was an act of grave abuse… which would make him liable for qualified theft,” the prosecutor said.
Babor failed to submit a counter-affidavit, which would have given him a chance to refute the allegations.
The Cebu Provincial Social Welfare and Development (PSWD), which takes custody of the rice supply, blamed Babor for the loss of several sacks of rice that were supposedly intended for disaster and emergency purposes.
At least three witnesses executed affidavits against Babor. The 35 sacks of rice deposited by PSWD at the CPDRC house van were allegedly withdrawn by Babor at 3:40 p.m. last April 25. / Reporter Ador Vincent S. Mayol