Makati jail official accused of stealing Starbucks mugs inside UST nabbed

MANILA — An official of the Makati City Jail was arrested for allegedly stealing a pack of mugs from Starbucks Coffee inside the University of Santo Tomas on Saturday (Feb. 6.)

Senior Inspector Manuel Rafanan Jr. denied the allegations and said he would file charges against the coffee shop and the school’s security guards. “They embarrassed me and accused me of something I did not do. In fact, they do not even have proof against me,” said Rafanan in an interview.

In his complaint, security guard Adamson Sienes said he saw Rafanan grab a pack of mugs from their merchandise rack about 2:33 p.m. on Saturday.

“Napansin niya siguro na baka nakita ko siya ng damputin niya iyong pakete ng mugs kaya lumapit siya sa akin at itinanong habang patagong hawak niya pa rin sa kanyang kamay ang pakete ng mugs (He might have thought that I saw him pick up the pack of mugs before he approached me and asked me about something, while trying to hide in his hands the package of mugs),” Sienes said in his affidavit.

“Pagkatapos nito ay tumayo siya sa may bandang kanan ng pintuan at nagmasid bago lumabas at pagkatapos ay tuluyang lumabas na hawak pa rin ang item. Sa pagkakataong yon ay inapproach ko siya,” he added. (Later, he stood to the right of the door, looked around before going out and leaving, still holding the item.  At that point, I approached him.)

Sienes said he asked Rafanan if he could inspect the paper bag for the item but the jail official refused.

“Bigla nalang siyang nag-iskandalo at nagpakilalang pulis. Sa pagkakataong ito, pinigilan ko siyang makaalis hanggang dumating ang mga security ng UST (He suddenly made a scene and claimed to be a cop.  At this point, I stopped him from leaving and called for the security guards of the UST),” he said.

Rafanan said he declined to show his paper bag “because it was a violation of my rights. I know my rights. Only the cops have the right to frisk me.”

Rafanan and Sienes reached two police stations. At the University Belt Area police precinct, Sienes said Inspector Artemio Amada ordered Rafanan to open the paperbag.

“Pero di pa rin siya pumayag (He refused to do so),” said Sienes.

Rafanan’s refusal to open his paper bag even in front of Amada prompted the cops and the guards to take the case to the Manila Police District’s general assignment section.

At MPD-GAS, Sienes raised the number of times Rafanan went to restroom. When asked whether he’s sure if the mugs were in Rafanan’s possession, he said: “Hindi ko na po masabi kong nasa loob pa po ng bag niya dahil sa haba na po ng oras na umagos at ilang beses na rin po siyang nagpunta sa restroom ng mga opisinang pinagdalhan sa amin.” (I can’t say if the item is still in his bag because several hours have passed and he went to the restroom of the police stations several times.)  SFM