Helper charged with qualified theft

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu City Assistant Prosecutor Victor Laborte elevated into a criminal case the complaint for qualified theft filed against the housemaid of Dr. Cristy Fano Lodovice, a government employee assigned at the Cebu City Health Department.

Laborte recommended a bail of P60, 000 for the temporary liberty of Bebelyn Rullan, 18, who is accused of stealing P120,000 from Lodovice.

Rullan is now detained at the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center.

Lodovice, 34 and a resident of Sitio Caimito, Urgello St., Barangay Sambag 1, Cebu City said that last December 4, she left their house early in the morning with her husband and kids.

Rullan, a native of La Libertad, Negros Oriental, was left alone in their house.

When Lodovice got back, she immediately went to sleep as she was tired from the day's work. The next day, she checked her bag that contained cash amounting to P120,000. She had placed this on top of the drawer inside the masters' bedroom.

But she was surprised to find the money was gone.

Knowing that the helper was alone in the house the previous day, Lodovice immediately went to the servant's quarters.

There she found, allegedly concealed among Rullan's clothing, six notes with corresponding amount written on it.

Rullan, according to the doctor's affidavit, denied at first but eventually admitted stealing the money after she was shown the notes recovered from her clothes.

Lodovice's husband then called for police assistance. Rullan claimed that she left the stolen cash to a friend so together with PO3 Gregorio Comaingking, Rullan and Lodovice's husband went to search for the friend at Barangay Lorega-San Miguel.

Rullan's friend, however, denied she had the money so they took Rullan to the police station and filed the case for qualified theft. (FREEMAN)