Canteen staff worker caught stealing food packs

A 53-YEAR-OLD worker of a canteen concessionaire at the Capitol was turned over to the police after she was caught on security cameras stealing relief packs intended for typhoon victims in northern Cebu.

But PO2 Gelo Destacamento of the Fuente police precinct said they released Messie Torralba yesterday because no charges were filed against her.

Torralba was summoned two days ago by the Capitol’s security office after footage from the building’s closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV) showed her stuffing food packs in her bag.

The incidents were recorded last Nov. 12, 28 and 29, Civil Security and Services Division (CSSD) chief Loy Madrigal said.

He said Torralba, a resident of barangay Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City, first denied stealing the food packs but eventually admitted to the thefts after seeing the video footage.

Torralba said her sick husband was just discharged from the hospital and the family was hard up.

“I will recommend to the legal office to press charges against her. She’s asking for forgiveness. W can do that but she will (have to) learn from this incident,” Madrigal said while showing the footage to reporters.

The worker returnd one food pack out of 10 packs she took from sacks during three instances, Madrigal said. Correspondent Peter L. Romanillos