Stolen jewelry leads to helper's arrest

MANILA, Philippines - A helper, who claimed she had been duped by con artists who told her to give up her employers’ cash and valuables, was arrested after her male employer saw her wearing his wife’s jewelry.

Senior Police Officer 4 Allan de la Cruz, said the couple was initially sympathetic to Christine Joy Arsenio, 19, until Elaine Ching said her husband saw the helper wearing one of Elaine’s cheap bracelets. The couple also saw in the maid’s room Elaine’s lipsticks and make-up kit.

The family lost some P1.4 million in cash and valuables after their maid claimed to have been fooled and handed over the items to con artists. SPO1 Johnny Mahilum said Arsenio was arrested Thursday night for her possible involvement.

Arsenio, who is currently detained at the Quezon City Police District headquarters at Camp Karingal, was subjected Friday to inquest proceedings on charges of qualified theft.

Elaine, 33, said among those lost were foreign currencies worth P200,000; a Rolex watch, P300,000; an Omega watch, P150,000; pieces of jewelry; and her passport. She said Arsenio was the only person on Thursday noon at the family’s house at Olympic Heights, Barangay Bagumbayan.

Arsenio claimed a woman called on the phone at around noon and identified herself as a certain Evelyn, a friend of her employers. She claimed Evelyn told her that Elaine and her husband met an accident and were in the hospital.

Arsenio said she was told to get money and valuables from the master bedroom. After getting out of the house, Arsenio boarded a cab and went to a mall in Pasig where she met an unidentified woman who took the paper bag containing the cash and valuables.

The maid said she was then told to go to a nearby fastfood store and wait to meet her employers. But after waiting for three hours, she went home. At around 6 p.m., Elaine called up her house and told Arsenio what food to cook but the helper cried and told her story.