TRS forced to end chapel burglary probe

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City’s Theft and Robbery Section has stopped investigating the burglary at the San Pedro Calungsod Chapel since the chapel personnel appeared to be uncooperative in the investigation.

Senior Insp. William Alicaba, chief of TRS, further said that the two nuns, the chapel secretary and the chapel cleaner didn’t show up after being invited them for questioning last Wednesday.

“Pamati namo dili sila interesado kay sukad sa pagkahitabo ani wala man gyud sila miari,” said Alicaba. (I think they are not interested because they never showed up since the incident.)

Alicaba revealed that the chapel personnel would just refer the police to their lawyer who shall answer all queries related to the said burglary.

TRS invited the three chapel personnel, the cleaner and the three security guards for questioning after they were suspected to be the potential burglars since the burglary was possibly an inside job.

Contrary to the chapel personnel, the three guards were cooperative in the investigation, said Alicaba.

“Ang security agency ra ang ni-cooperate,” he said.

Moreover, Alicaba said their investigation showed that the three guards were innocent.

“Wala sila’y labot. Wala sila’y yawe sa drawer,” Alicaba said, referring to the drawer at the chapel basement where the P100,000 and the checks that were stolen were kept.

Only the secretary and the two nuns have the key duplicate to the drawer, said Alicaba, so they must have also issued statements to shed light on the incident and have their sides heard.

The TRS chief said there were no signs or even a tool mark seen on the drawer that would indicate that it was forcibly opened. A key was really used to open it, Alicaba claimed.

Alicaba said they can’t do nothing if the chapel personnel, who are also considered victims or complainants of the incident, won’t cooperate with them.

Alicaba’s superior though, Cebu City Police Office acting director Mariano Natu-el, Jr., said they will continue with the investigation if they find leads and will even inform the chapel personnel about it.

Last Sunday morning, at least P100,000 and some checks were discovered missing from the drawer at the San Pedro Calungsod Chapel at the South Road Properties in Barangay Mambaling.

The amount was from christenings and weddings held at the chapel last week and was supposed to be deposited last Monday.

It was found out at the course of the investigation that chapel guards Lemuel Cuesta, Raymund Tanelon and Wilfredo Talisic were not around when the crime took place based on the chapel’s logbook.

Investigation further showed that the burglar destroyed the doorknob of the room where the cash was kept. Police said the burglar may just have been diverting their attention since the doorknob was weak and could be easily destroyed.  (FREEMAN)