Employee who lost P80 T in casino nabbed in Valenzuela City

Instead of depositing P80,000 in a local bank, an employee of a cooperative decided to try his luck in a casino. But Jose Antonio Barra, 28, a computer science graduate, ran out of luck and lost. He decided to disappear instead.

Barra, who is now working as a telephone technician at Bayantel, was arrested Saturday when combined operatives of the Capiz police and the Regional Intelligence and Special Operations Office (RISOO) traced him in his residence at 16 Rome St., Phase 1 Ciudad Grande, Barangay Lingunan, Valenzuela City. He did not resist arrest.

RISOO chief Superintendent Sotero Ramos Jr. said Barra was arrested on the strenght of an arrest warrant issued last April 8 by Judge Henry Avelino of the 6th Judicial Region for qualified theft.

Avelino recommended no bail for Barra.

Ramos said Barra was employed by the Pontevedra Vendors Development Cooperative Inc. in Capiz when cashier Lezel Dapat entrusted to him some P80,000 last Feb. 21 to be deposited in a bank in Roxas City. But instead of depositing the money, Barra took a trip to Bacolod City where he tried his luck in a casino.

"He lost all the money in the gambling table," said Ramos.

But unknown to Barra, the local cooperative filed qualified theft charges against him and Avelino subsequently issued an arrest warrant last April 8.

Upon receipt of Barra’s arrest warrant, Senior Superintendent Cipriano Querol Jr., Capiz PNP provincial director, coordinated with Ramos for his arrest after a tip was received from an informant that he was seen in Valenzuela City.

Apparently thinking that the cooperative is not hot on his trail, Barra applied for a job at Bayantel and was hired as a telephone technician. He was surprised when police arrived at his house and served him the arrest warrant.

Ramos said Barra admitted his crime and was immediately turned over to the Pontevedra police for appropriate action. — Non Alquitran