Bank official faces P4.3-M qualified theft raps

 A 55-year-old bank cashier manager accused of qualified theft asked a Makati court yesterday to dismiss the charges against her on grounds that her family would be killed if she did not deliver more than P4.3 million to persons she had yet to identify.

Ernesto Francisco, counsel of Erlinda  Ledesma, told Judge Jennylind Delorino of Makati Regional Trial Court that based on evidence on record, his client was a victim in a bank robbery committed against Philtrust Bank’s Ayala Avenue branch and should not have been charged with  qualified theft.

In their affidavits, co-employees of Ledesma said the bank manager walked out of their establishment carrying a huge amount of money and walked back fearing for her family’s life, he added.

Francisco said Ledesma was also illegally detained since May 31 at the Makati Medical Center, where police allegedly wanted to arrest her while she was unconscious.

She was discharged from the hospital yesterday but was again taken to the emergency room after she collapsed while on her way out, he added.

Francisco said based on the statements of Ledesma’s co-employees that what happened at the bank was no different from a bank robbery. 

“If at all, the culprits or bank robbers merely employed a different modus operandi, that is, by threatening to kill the family of a bank cashier and by taking advantage of the mother’s natural love for and instinct to protect her daughters and husband from harm,” he said.

The court gave Philtrust until June 10 to formally oppose their motion to dismiss the case and the defense to comment the following day, Francisco said.

According to her defense, on May 30, Ledesma, who was supposed to retire the next day after 34 years of service, walked out of Philtrust’s Ayala Avenue branch with a bag containing more than P4.3 million.

After five to six minutes, she came back without the bag and told a security guard that “someone did something to her” before she collapsed and fainted.

Co-employees came to her aid and tried to help her regain consciousness, and when she did, she uttered in a frightened voice: “Don’t hurt my family. What more do you want? I’ve given you the money.”

Ledesma was brought to the MMC to be treated but while confined, Philtrust filed qualified theft charges against her and allegedly placed men on guard in an apparent effort to prevent her from leaving.

The STAR tried to reach Philtrust officials, who said the bank will issue a statement soon.