Maid paid co-worker to keep silent on thefts

MANILA, Philippines - A housemaid was arrested Friday for allegedly stealing her employer’s money and jewelry after her fellow helper – whom she had paid P5,000 to keep silent – told their boss.

Kaye Elaine Tena, 39, faces charges of qualified theft based on a complaint filed by Annaliza Go of Barangay Sikatuna, Quezon City. Tena started working for Go in December last year.

Police Officer 3 Jogene Hernandez said Go discovered that P100,000 worth of jewelry and P30,000 cash was missing from her bedroom on Sept. 7. She told Tena and her other helper, Mary Joy Matas, 19, that she would forgive them so long as the jewelry is returned. Matas started working for Go in May.

That night, Tena went out and returned the following morning. While she was out, Matas approached Go and told her Tena had stolen the jewelry and money. To prove her claim, Matas turned over the P5,000 Tena allegedly gave her in exchange for her silence.

Matas said Tena told her she took P20,000 to get the jewelry she pawned at two pawnshops, and she had taken the P10,000 on Sept. 26.

Go said she had been noticing money and items disappearing since March.