PB invites treasurers to shed light on thefts

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Board has invited the treasurer of Toledo City on its regular session today to shed light on the recent burglary incident where over P1million was carted away by unknown perpetrators but believed to be employees of the city government.

Board Member Grecilda Sanchez, who heads the Committee on Budget and Appropriation, said they wanted to know why the treasurer kept a large amount of money on a weekend when these can just be deposited to a bank.

 "Ato silang pangutan-on and how we can help them.  Naa untay policy ana nga di mag-keep ingon ana kadako nga cash," she said.

The burglary incident on the night of September 7, took place at the treasurer's office in Toledo City.

Investigators are now looking at the possibility of an inside job since the investigation showed that the perpetrator had sufficient information that a huge amount of money was kept inside the vault and that no signs of forcible entry could be seen at the main entrance.

They only noticed forced entry traces in the second door where the door to the room with the vault was destroyed. The P1 million taken was intended for the salaries of teachers.

Along with Toledo City treasurer Ofelia Oliva, the PB also invited the president of the Cebu Treasurer's Association, Palma E. Batobalonos, and Capitol's acting treasurer Emmanuel Guial to shed light also on the series of burglaries in the towns.

In less than a month's time, five cases of burglary in town halls have been recorded. These happened in the municipal halls in Sogod, Carmen, Compostela, and Pinamungajan, and the city of Toledo.

Sanchez is suggesting that a policy should be created to prohibit the treasurers from keeping huge amount of money inside their offices on a weekend.

Meanwhile, Medellin Mayor Ricardo Ramirez said his town is secured with Closed-circuit Television cameras and security guards. He added that the guards are safeguarding the municipal hall 24 hours on weekends.

"Wa ko nabalaka anang tulis-tulis sa Medellin kay hagbay ra ming naay mga CCTV. Naa pa gyoy gwardya sweldado sa munisipyo," he said, adding that salaries should be released immediately rather than keeping them over the weekend. (FREEMAN)