Polygraph tests start for Ballesteros, center staff

POLYGRAPH tests began yesterday for seven sports center workers, including a private security guard charged for the robbery of P1.6-million cash of the Sinulog Foundation from an office vault.

Ronilo Rocal, the chief NBI-7 polygraph examiner, said they will have foundation executive director Ricky Ballesteros undergo the test ahead of the others.

Lie detector results are not admissible as evidence in court.

“We resort to polygraph testing as a tool for investigation,” said NBI-7 Assistant Director Lauro Reyes.

Reyes said those called to the NBI are “witnesses and not suspects” to help the police establish the timeline of incidents before and after the burglary.

“Everybody is still a witness at this point of time,” Reyes said.

Ballesteros was present at the NBI-7 office yesterday but didn’t take the test yet. He said he would cooperate with the inquiry in any way needed.

Cebu City Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said the dawn robbery showed a “breakdown” of peace and order in the city with criminals getting bolder.

He said managers in the sports center should find ways to install security cameras in offices that hold cash.

“This (robbery) speaks of the real picture of crimes in Cebu City,” said Young, who added that police should work harder in crime fighting.

“There’s nothing wrong in keeping money there pero gipa-katulgan unta to ug tawo sulod sa opisina (they should have let people sleep in the office),” Young said.

Young said the Sinulog Foundation bodega should be vacated to maximize the use of space in the sports center sports center space.

If possible, he would have the foundation leave private space for their office use.

The persons whom police want to take the polygraph test include security guards Joselyndo Jabagat and John Eric Carcedo, utility crew Manuel Quemada, maintenance personnel Rosita Velasco, and John Michael Pepito of the Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI).

Marie Angelie Pascual, the cashier of the foundation, was also asked to appear for the exam to verify if P 1.7-million cash was really in the vault.

Jabagat, who denied any role in the burglary, is facing a complaint of qualified theft before the Cebu City Prosecutors’ Office.

A polygraph measures several physiological aspects such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity while the examinee is asked questions answered by a simple “yes” or “no.”

Rocal said results of a polygraph test are 80 percent accurate although NBI-7 Assistant DReyes said its result is flawless.

“Nobody can beat the machine. It’s 100 percent accurate,” Reyes told Cebu Daily News.

Rocal said it’s important for them to know the facts and background of the entire story from the police first.

“As an examiner, I formulate questions based on the facts of the case,” he told Cebu Daily News.

Reyes said results will be sent to the police who will decide whether to release it to the media.

Jabagat, the 40-year-old guard, said he fell asleep while on duty at dawn, when the robbery took place.

No one actually saw him take the money but one witness said an unidentified man entered the administration office early morning.

“Yes, I was on duty and I have to answer for that lapse but I was very tired after working for 24 hours,” he said.

Vice Mayor Young said he wanted the Sinulog Foundation office in the bodega to be cleared and converted to a chess room or boxing gym to earn revenue.

“If they have money, they should already lease space but since ato ra gihapon na sila, sige na lang,” he said.

The city-owned facility earns at least P1 million a year.

Young said low revenue generation is also a result of competition with the Cebu Normal University and the Sacred Heart School which have rubberized oval tracks.

The Cebu City Sports Commission also holds office in the sports center.