Fired burger firm sup flees with P350T earnings, trapped

CEBU, Philippines - A supervisor of a burger junction in Lapu-Lapu City who was accused of stealing P350,000 cash earnings of all its branches was arrested in Surigao City yesterday morning.

Erwin Padillon, 31, with live-in partner and a native of Sta. Ana, Agusan del Norte and a former supervisor of Nicey Burger Junction along Tumulak Street in Barangay Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu City, was arrested in his hometown after Lapu-Lapu City Police Station 3 led by Chief Police Senior Inspector Wilbert Parilla was able to seek assistance from his counterparts in the said province.

Padillon was arrested after Rolando Laniba, 44, of Barangay Gabi, Cordova town and owner of the said burger joint, sought police assistance after he discovered the suspect who he recently fired allegedly stole the earnings of his business. According to Parilla, last Monday evening, the victim discovered that his burger junction was burglarized when he came to his office to supposedly to deposit their earnings in the bank. He discovered that the padlock of his steel box was already destroyed.

"Ang tulo ka door knob sa mga buhatan ang gipangguba, lakip nga giguba ang closed-circuit television camera ug ang central processing unit sa computer sulod sa maong establisemento. Duna na gyud mi pagduda nga siya (Padillon) kay nawala naman ni siya sa  gipuy-an (The three door knobs, the CCTV camera and computer CPUs have been virtually wrecked. We had an inkling that he was responsible for it because he was gone)," Parilla said.

It was also learned that last September 5, Padillon was fired as supervisor of the said burger joint for reason not yet disclosed. During a follow-up operation, it was learned that Padillon sent his live-in partner home in her place in Olango Island last Monday evening. During conversation, they learned from her that the suspect has been bringing along with him a bag full of money.

They then instructed her to  reach him through cellular phone and for his whereabouts. The suspect informed her that he was already onboard a ship bound for his hometown. The police immediately went to the port but unfortunately the ship had already left when they arrived.

Because of this, Parilla immediately called his counterparts in Surigao City and were able to intercept the suspect upon his arrival at the pier yesterday morning. — (FREEMAN)