Cops hunt down newly hired maid for P2M theft

MANILA —  The police are now trying to locate a newly hired housemaid accused of stealing P2 million in cash from her employer’s residence in Kaunlaran Village, Barangay North Bay Boulevard South, Navotas City, on Saturday evening.

The suspect, identified as Hazel Castalom, was hired by 46-year-old businessman Eugenio Decierdo last Friday and she allegedly robbed him of cash a day after, the case investigator,  PO2 Philip Edgar Valera of the Navotas City Police, said.

Initial investigation showed that Decierdo left his house on Saturday. Hours after, the victim’s cousin reported to him that Castalom had left their house.

Upon his return, Decierdo discovered that his master bedroom had been forcibly opened and the money inside the cabinet was already missing, the investigator said.  Valera said Decierdo easily became at ease with Castalom upon learning she came from the same town as he did and after she presented to him an NBI clearance.

Valera said the NBI certificate could have been faked.

On Monday, the police found out that this was not the first time Castalom was linked to a robbery.  A Facebook post of another victim has accused Castalom of robbing her previous employer.

Investigations and intensive followup are ongoing for the immediate arrest of the suspect. (Jhena Sy, Inquirer trainee) SFM