PUP dean loses jewelry, money to housemaid

A dean of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) lost more than P1.3 million worth of antique jewelry and foreign currency allegedly to her housemaid in Manila.

Ma. Cecilia Mercado, 63, dean of the PUP College of Accountancy, filed a charge of qualified theft against Arlyn Mangandi, who allegedly stole several pieces of jewelry and foreign currency from her house                                                                                              on Bagumbayan Street in Bacood.

Insp. Jimmy Labarda, of the Manila Police District (MPD) Theft and Robbery Section, said Mercado discovered the theft on Monday morning when she found that her locked cabinet containing valuables was left open. The items were apparently stolen while Mercado and her husband were away on a trip.

The PUP official reported as missing a diamond ring worth P500,000, a gold necklace worth P100,000, a pair of diamond earrings valued at P300,000, a bracelet worth P10,000 and several other assorted pieces of jewelry worth P300,000.

Foreign currency worth approximately P130,000 had also disappeared from the cabinet.

Mercado was told by another housemaid that the suspect had given her a necklace which she had recognized as among those missing. She then decided to look for Mangandi who had gone back to her hometown in Pangasinan.

“When she (Mercado) confronted the housemaid, Mangandi allegedly confessed to stealing the jewelry, and even returned several pieces. But the others have not yet been accounted for,” Labarda said.

With Mangandi’s confession, Mercado decided to have theft reported in the records of the Pangasinan police.

On Wednesday, Mercado filed a charge of qualified theft against Mangandi in the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office.