Captain tags officers in pilferage of cargo

CEBU, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation has filed four counts of qualified theft charges against four officers of a local cargo vessel allegedly responsible in the pilferage of a cargo containing soya bean amounting to more than half a million pesos.

The complaint was filed against chief mate Lyndon Balacy, second mate Roberto Andilab, chief engineer Aldeberto Arias, and quarter master Orlan Ora before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutors Office.

They are among the 22 crew members of MV Pathfinder, a cargo vessel owned by the Seen Sam Shipping, Inc.

Benson Go, chief executive officer of the shipping firm, complained before the NBI about the alleged pilferage of his soya bean shipment from Maraviles, Bataan to Cebu and Iloilo.

During investigation, ship captain Alfredo Cañete pointed to the four respondents as the ones allegedly responsible for the pilferage.

Cañete told the NBI that when he assumed as ship captain in May 2008, Andilab, Ora and Arias allegedly approached him and told him that they have buyers of soya beans and other cargoes in the ship. They also allegedly told him that they would just call or text their contacts when stocks are available.

Cañete claimed he resisted because he knew that it was illegal but he was also afraid of his safety because all of the crew members were allegedly “in unison” to commit the crime.

Cañete said that on at least four occasions, the suspects were able to transfer 200 bags of soya beans into a motorized boat that traveled alongside the vessel in the middle of the sea in Bantayan Island.

Based on their computation, a total of P544,130.49 of soya beans shipment have been pilfered from November 2008 to May 2009. — Fred P. Languido/JMO (THE FREEMAN)