Maid gets 16 years for stealing earrings

MANILA, Philippines - A housemaid was meted 16 years imprisonment by the Marikina City regional trial court (RTC) judge for stealing a pair of her employer’s diamond earrings three years ago.

In a 14-page decision released Friday, Judge Felix Reyesfound housemaid Julie Ebreo guilty of qualified theft.

Court records show that Ebreo tried to borrow money from her employer, Presentacion Buan, 79, on Aug. 22, 2006 to send to her family in the province.

Because she had no cash at the time, Buan turned her down. Minutes later, Ebreo asked permission to leave the house and borrow money from friends and neighbors.

Buan agreed. However, when she later went to her room, she was surprised to see her safety deposit box open and her diamond earrings gone.

Buan immediately called up the police, who arrested Ebreo and confiscated the missing earrings from her. – Non Alquitran