Maid suspected of stealing P.4-M jewelry

MANILA, Philippines - A lawyer is asking the public to help her locate her household helper, who she suspects stole P400,000 worth of jewelry from her house in Quezon City.

In a statement sent to The STAR, Isabel Felix said Maricel Damaso Barat, 26, had been her family’s helper for nearly four years. She said the family trusted her because of her positive attitude toward work and would allow her to go home to Cotabato several times a year, shouldering her travel expenses.

She said on Jan. 24, Barat was allowed to go home and was supposed to return in four days.

However, Felix said their family found several sets of jewelry missing on the same day Barat left. Barat has not been seen since and they tried in vain to find her through her friends in the neighborhood, she said.