Dalawampu: Ballesteros and SFI workers hiding something

CEBU, Philippines - The counsel of the security guard earlier arrested over the disappearance of P1.6 million from the Sinulog Foundation Incorporated (SFI) believes that SFI Executive Director Ricky Ballesteros and other employees of the Cebu City Sport Center (CCSC) are hiding something from the police.

Joselyndo Jabagat finally decided on Thursday to file counter-charges against the police who arrested him and to seek help from the National Bureau of Investigation – 7 for a separate probe.

 Jabagat’s counsel, Gloria Lastimosa-Dalawampu, told The FREEMAN that Ballesteros, Ester Santander, Marie Angelie Pascual and Helen Talisic, all employees of the CCSC, should be investigated by the NBI for having prior knowledge of the lost money. 

“They had the last touch of the money. Sila Ballesteros ug kadtong uban,” she said. 

Dalawampu said that when she read the affidavits of Ballesteros and the CCSC employees, she discovered a lot of unanswered questions like how the P1.6 million was allegedly placed in the CCSC vault.

She asked said why Ballesteros would risk keeping such a large amount of money in an unsecured place where CCSC employees just come and go.

She said that aside from focusing on her client, the police should have explored the possibility that the perpetrators might simply be inside the CCSC or the SFI, she said.

Dalawampu likewise urged the Cebu City Government, through Councilor Edgardo Labella, to investigate the SFI for any possible dubious transactions.

Labella proposed a resolution requesting the NBI to conduct a separate investigation on the SFI burglary.

Dalawampu on Tuesday presented two possible complaints they can file against the police which include a criminal lawsuit and an administrative case.

“Daku kaayo ilang sayop, ila baya gidakop si Jabagat, gipusasan ug gihigut - arrest without warrant na,” she said. (They made a huge mistake arresting him without a warrant.)

Jabagat decided to file a case against his captors after being detained for 13 days for a crime he said he did not commit. He has yet to decide which case they will file.

Cebu City Police Office Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe earlier admitted that they committed lapses in handling the case.

The Cebu City Prosecutors’ Office had junked the complaint for qualified theft against Jabagat. (FREEMAN)