Two plead not guilty to qualified theft

CEBU, Philippines - Two caretakers pleaded not guilty to a qualified theft charge filed against them. 

Dionesio Cabiluna and Agnes Palicti, assisted by their lawyer Carlos Tan, denied the charges during their arraignment yesterday.

Predisminda Arante, 60, a resident of Sitio Lower Torre, Barangay Inayawan, Cebu City, accused Cabiluna and Palicti of stealing her pieces of jewelry amounting to P1.6 million.

“The two were my trusted caretaker to watch over my house and valuables every time I go abroad. I also entrusted and left the key of my personal vault where I put my pieces of jewelry,” she said.

She said she would go to abroad every three years and in 2008, before going abroad, she left the key of her personal vault inside her room to the accused.

On October 28, 2011, when she arrived from abroad she asked for the key from the accused but they allegedly refused. But, the following day, the key was returned to her upon her insistence.

When Arante opened the vault, she found out that all the pieces of jewelry had gone.

“I tried to ask my caretakers but unfortunately, the two were no longer found in the house as they hurriedly left after they gave the key,” she said.

Arante sought assistance from Pardo Police Station, whose personnel led by SPO1 Joel Lacson then arrested the accused in Carmen, Toledo City.

Arante said she knew later that her pieces of jewelry amounting to P1,612,000 were already pawned to different pawnshops in Cebu City and Toledo City.

The preliminary hearing of the case will be held on January 30, 2012. — (FREEMAN)