Manila cop in Dalaig case faces theft raps

A Manila Police District (MPD) policeman was charged with qualified theft the other day before the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) for allegedly stealing cash and jewelry from the body of Commission on Elections (Comelec) legal chief Alioden Dalaig when he was slain last November.

Assistant City Prosecutor Anne Geraldine Agar filed charges against Senior Police Officer 2 Benito Cabatbat of the MPD’s homicide section. As case investigator, he reportedly stole P6,910 and a P50,000 gold bracelet from Dalaig’s body.

Records showed that at around 4 p.m. of Nov. 16, Dalaig’s family and some Comelec personnel went to the MPD homicide division to get Dalaig’s personal belongings.

Among those who went to the MPD were Alioden Dalaig Jr., Zoraya Dalaig, and lawyer Ma. Juana Valeza of the Comelec legal department. They were told to return at 7 p.m. that night.

At 8 p.m., Cabatbat turned over Dalaig’s belongings to the family, who said they found the P50,000 bracelet replaced with a “gold-plated chain made of a very poor material and without a lock.”

Cabatbat insisted that it was the same bracelet given to him by the hospital staff. When the family also asked for the money of the victim, Cabatbat told them he could not release the money to them as a politician from Bulacan, whose identify he refused to reveal, was claiming ownership over the money.

It was only on Nov. 17 that Cabatbat released P328,000 to the family and Comelec personnel. Dalaig’s kin said this was supposed to be P334,910, meaning Cabatbat was short of about P7,000.

The complainants said Cabatbat returned the bracelet on Nov. 17 after he was confronted by his superior, then MPD homicide section chief Superintendent Nelson Yabut.

“Had the attention of Supt. Yabut not (been) called, respondent would keep for himself the genuine gold bracelet,” the prosecutor said.

Agar said Cabatbat gave no explanation on the whereabouts of the said P6,910, creating the presumption that he (respondent) appropriated it for himself.

“By reason of his being the investigator-on-case of the Dalaig killing, respondent had the material possession of the gold bracelet and of the cash. As discussed above, he took advantage of his position in taking, with intent to gain, the gold bracelet and of the P6,910. The crime has already reached the consummated stage because he already gained full possession of the item that completed the unlawful taking,” Agar said in her two-page resolution recommending the filing of charges.