Asturias VM sues town worker for qualified theft

CEBU – A criminal complaint for qualified theft was filed by the vice mayor of Asturias against a municipal employee who allegedly stole iron grill fender protector worth P5,000 from the motor pool of the said town.

Vice Mayor Joel Dumdum filed the complaint before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office against Rene Cabañero after the latter was identified to be the one responsible in stealing the municipal property in the afternoon of September 29.

Cabañero, an employee of the municipality of Asturias, was identified by his co-worker and the owner of the junkshop where he had sold the stolen iron grill fender protector for only P345.

Juanito Albarin, Jr. said that Cabañero went to the motor pool at around 4 p.m. of September 29 and took the said items. Cabañero allegedly loaded the iron grill fender protector of the dump truck to the waiting trisikad.

Albarin recalled that Cabañero admonished him not to interfere with what he was doing.

“Ayaw pagpalag ha kay bag-ohay pa ka diri,” Albarin quoted Cabañero’s word to him.

Delia Nardo, owner of the said junkshop, also confirmed that it was Cabañero who sold the stolen items to her.

Nardo said she first asked Cabañero where he got the pieces of iron, but she was allegedly told by the suspect to stop asking further questions.

The stolen items were later recovered by the members of the Asturias Police Station. – Fred P. Languido/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)