Guard admits sleeping, drinking on the job

HE admitted to falling asleep at the time the burglary at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) administration’s office occurred last Monday dawn.

But 40-year-old security guard Joselyndo Jabagat denied he and another person robbed the over P1.6 million in cash and valuables at the office.

He faced qualified theft charges before the Cebu City Prosecutors’ Office yesterday afternoon.

Accompanied by his wife Marilyn and his in-laws, Jabagat signed a waiver of detention that will allow him to submit his counter-affidavit within 10 days.

In the meantime, he will be detained at the Cebu City police mini-precinct.

Asst. City Prosecutor Gandhi Truya questioned the way the police handled the investigation, among them the filing of a complaint against Jabagat. “It seemed as if they are in a hurry,” he said.

Truya said the summary report of stolen items didn’t bear the signature of the person who conducted the inventory.

“How did they come up with this amount (P1,688,831.10)? What was their basis?” the prosecutor said.

In theft complaints, Truya said  the owner of the money should prove the crime, which in this case is the Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI).

He said the foundation wasn’t represented in the complaint.

“There was no representative from the Sinulog Foundation in the documents. Anyone from the foundation should come here,” said Truya.

Jabagat, a resident of barangay Carreta, Cebu City, denied the allegations leveled against him.

“Kapoy kaayo ang akong lawas atong panahona. Nakatulog ko. Wa nako namatngoni nga naay nisulod (I was very tired during that time. I fell asleep. I didn’t noticed someone got inside the room),” he told reporters.

Jabagat said he was on duty from 7 a.m. last Sunday to 7 a.m. the following day.

He said he slept inside the media center located across the room where the vault was placed.

Jabagat said he didn’t lock the door of the room where the vault was located because he thought there were no other persons in the vicinity.

He said he didn’t know that the vault contained money.

“If I did something wrong, why did I return to work? I should have left,” Jabagat said.

He said he is willing to face the complaint leveled against him because he is innocent.

Jabagat also denied he has a companion who stole the amount.