Woman charged with estafa

CEBU, Philippines - An employee of security agency is facing charges before the Regional Trial Court for allegedly misappropriating almost P500,000 worth of social welfare benefit contributions of the security guards.

Daphne Belocura, former benefit-in-charge and petty cash administrator of Pioneer Detective Credit Security Agency Inc. (Pioneer), was sued for estafa by Erick Elmer Gica, general manager of the company.

Belocura was previously tasked to process, remit or pay the social welfare benefit remittances of the employees and security guards of Pioneer to agencies such as Social Security System, Philippine Health Insurance System, and Home Development Mutual Fund. 

She was also assigned as the custodian of the company’s cash for payment of its petty cash advances.

Gica alleged in his complaint-affidavit that his family considered Belocura as part of their own and out of trust and confidence, offered her a job. Belocura reportedly started working in Pioneer since May 2011.

But Gica said that Belocura breached the trust and abused the confidence given to her by Pioneer and Gica family when she used her position to allegedly misappropriate the company’s money for her personal use. 

On August, 15, 2012, the company reportedly issued a check payable to her name amounting to P25,653 intended to pay for the social welfare benefit contributions of the security guards of Pioneer.

However, Belocura allegedly paid only P19,084.28 and used the remaining P6,588.72.

The following day, Belocura was supposed to fully pay P63,026 for the benefit remittances of the security guards but only remitted P54,144.87 and allegedly misappropriated the P8,881.13.

Gica alleged that similar incidents also happened in the succeeding months of the same year when Belocura allegedly misappropriated P80,000 and another P412,889.11.

He further said that Belocura reportedly tampered the official receipts, including the dates, issued by PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG for the payment of the benefit contributions of the guards on March 22, 2013, June 3, 2013, June 18, 2013, and July 25, 2013 to allegedly make it appear that they were paid.

Belocura also allegedly issued petty cash vouchers for her personal use. Gica said Belocura allegedly misappropriated a total of P527,619.98 from Pioneer with grave abuse of confidence.

Gica further alleged Belocura admitted she has been taking money from her employer and even voluntarily signed a promissory note and an affidavit of admission, promising to pay all the money she took by monthly installments of P5,000. However, Belocura reportedly never came back, prompting Gica to bring the matter to court.

Belocura failed to submit her counter-affidavit and answer the allegations despite being summoned.

In her resolution, Cebu City Prosecutor I Fatima Asjali-Maadil found probable cause to indict Belocura for estafa under Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code but not qualified theft as alleged by the complainant. (FREEMAN)