Photo courtesy of PNP
Two household workers were arrested in separate cases in Quezon City and Manila after employers reported missing cash and valuables worth nearly Php 4.7 million, according to the Philippine National Police.
In Quezon City, a 19-year-old housemaid was taken into custody after her employer discovered that six luxury watches, dozens of pieces of jewelry and Php 500,000 in cash were missing from a residence in Barangay Nayong Kanluran.
Police said the woman claimed she had been misled by an unidentified man who told her that her employer had been involved in a car accident and needed valuables for supposed medical expenses.
Investigators alleged that the housemaid handed the items to the man outside the residence, where he was waiting in a ride-hailing vehicle. Authorities are checking CCTV footage and other leads to identify the person and recover the missing property.
A separate arrest was made in Barangay 163, Tondo, Manila, where a 28-year-old caretaker was accused of taking money from his employer’s room.
Police said a witness allegedly saw the caretaker removing cash from a cabinet. Authorities recovered Php 20,000 from him, while another Php 170,000 intended for an electricity payment was reported missing.
The two suspects are facing complaints for qualified theft under Article 310 of the Revised Penal Code. The Manila suspect was brought to the city prosecutor’s office after undergoing the required medical examination.
PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said police would continue pursuing leads in both cases, particularly efforts to recover the missing valuables and identify any other person who may have been involved. The accusations remain subject to investigation and court proceedings.