2 bank employees face raps for theft

CEBU, Philippines -  For their alleged failure to replace the misappropriated funds, two employees of a bank are now facing charges before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.

Mercedes Bayarcal, compliance officer of the Rural Bank of Barili (Cebu) Inc., has filed qualified theft against Ma. Katrina Malubay, a resident of Barangay Napo, Carcar City for six counts and Engelberto Cañizares of Barangay Bolinawan of said city for two counts.

In her complaint, she alleged that despite the period of time given to the respondents, the same failed to refund the huge amount of money they allegedly misappropriated.

Malubay allegedly carted P375,000 while P2,188,000 for Cañizares.

On May 2, 2013, Bayarcal said the Audit Department of the bank conducted an audit on the suspected “ghost loans and other malicious machination” allegedly employed by Malubay.

Malubay is a credit and collection officer of the bank, whose function is to process, verify and recommend for the approval of the application for loan and the collection of the past/due accounts of the borrowers.

In the course of the audit, Malubay was found to have six transactions with the bank from January 30, 2010 to December 26, 2012.

It revealed that Malubay used the account of a certain Elma Bagameto and made it appear that the latter applied for loan of P70,000.

Allegedly, Malubay also used the accounts of April Lopies, Leonel Emnacei, Areleo Ceubaz and Grayse Nehlleiz in applying loan amounting to P375,000.

Bayarcal said that during the conference, Malubay allegedly admitted the commission of the crime, thus, she was given a period of time to refund the amount but failed.

Bayarcal likewise said that Cañizares, a home office cashier, allegedly misappropriated P2,188,000 based on the audit report of the Audit Department conducted sometime in August 2013.

During the conference, Cañizares also allegedly admitted that he committed fraudulent act by making it appear that the amount was deposited in Chinabank when in truth it was not.

Cañizares was given time to refund the said amount but failed which prompted the filing of complaint against him. — (FREEMAN)