School’s graduation rites money stolen

CEBU, Philippines - A cash amounting to P114,900 allegedly intended for the graduation ceremony of the Tubungan National High School in Tubungan town of Iloilo was lost following a burglary early morning yesterday.

The incident was discovered when the school janitor, Lucio Tabares, reported for work around 6 a.m. and found the destroyed lock at the administration building.

Aside from cash, the school also lost two flat screen computer monitors and an automatic voltage regulator.

According to Inspector Arnold Octavio, Tubungan Police chief, it was not all too hard for burglars to enter the building.

“The roll-up door was closed but it was not locked, making it easy for the burglars to enter and destroy the locks at the administration and accounting offices,” said Octavio, adding that the cash was just kept in an unlocked steel cabinet.

The cashier/clerk claimed that she used to keep the money in the cabinet and it was not lost until yesterday. Some school staff earlier said the money was collection for the school’s upcoming graduation ceremony.

But the school principal refuted and claimed that it was the school fund from the students’ miscellaneous fees.

Octavio also noted that the school only employed a day-time security guard. “We have reminded the (management) several times to be wary of their security because it was not the first time the burglary happened,” he said.

Fingerprints were already lifted from the scene, Octavio said. “We have no suspects for now but we are entertaining all possible angles including inside job,” he added. —(FREEMAN)