Ex-postman faces charges for failing to deliver mails

CEBU, Philippines - A former employee of Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) faces charges before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) for his failure to deliver the mails to people who are supposed to receive them.

Mark Warren Vergara, emergency laborer of Philpost, Cebu Central Post Office in Cebu City was charged for infidelity in the custody of document.

Vergara was likewise found guilty of administrative case and recommended for termination from service effective October 4, 2007.

Graft investigator Amy Rose Rellin recommended P24,000 for Vergara’s temporary liberty.

Rellin indicted Vergara for 14 counts of infidelity in the custody of document particularly in removal, concealment or destruction of documents.

Philpost regional director Robert Mondoñedo filed the case for qualified theft or infidelity in the custody of documents before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas against Vergara after several complaints were received by their office of non-receipt of the checks coming from SSS, GSIS and Philhealth.

Mondoñedo said Vergara, assigned as mail delivery personnel went on absence without official leave (AWOL) on October 4, 2007 after he learned of the complains of the addressees.

The Philpost official added Vergara allegedly pilfered the mail matters containing checks from Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) to be delivered to 14 persons.

According to Mondoñedo the letters that were assigned to Vergara for delivery were recovered in the house of a certain Aurelia Abelgas of Tisa, Cebu City and in the respondent’s locker at the post office.

However, in the counter-affidavit of Vergara, he denied being an employee of Philpost.

Vergara pointed out that Rodelio Hapin, Bernardo Villona and Waren Gacasan, addressees of some checks, never executed affidavits to support their respective claims.

He added the rest of the complaining addressees who executed affidavits, did not categorically state that their mail matters contained checks sent to them by SSS, GSIS and Philhealth.

“I could not be charged for qualified theft since the alleged checks were not payable to the Philpost, but to the different addressees thereof; thus complainant Philpost did not suffer any loss or damage,” Vergara said.

But Mondoñedo stressed Vergara was hired by Philpost as an emergency laborer since July 1, 2006 until October 4, 2007.

Mondoñedo presented evidences to prove his claim like Plantilla of Casual Appointment dated July 3, 2006; December 28, 2006 and June 25, 2007; Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth as of May 30, 2006 and Position Description Form.

He added “although the checks were not payable to Philpost, the mail matters were under the custody and responsibility of Philpost, thus it suffered irreparable loss and injury.” - (THE FREEMAN)