The Dumaguete City police foiled Thursday an attempt by a bank messenger to keep for himself the money he was supposed to deposit in another bank in Dumaguete.

City police chief, Supt. Leopoldo Cabanag, said Pablicito Paclauna, 43, a messenger of Merchant Bank located at Real Street, made it appear that he was held up at about 10 a.m. near the MetroBank Dumaguete Branch. He claimed that hold-uppers took the P182,000 in cash he was carrying.

Police, however, said that during tactical interrogation, they learned that Paclauna had made false statements in alleging that he was held up and boxed in the stomach by the robbers.

Investigators said Paclauna kept the money in his residence in Banilad-Bacong.

Cabanag said that, contrary to Paclauna’s claim, bank security guards did not notice any commotion at that particular hour. It was also found out that there were no traces of injuries in Paclauna’s stomach where he claimed he had been hit.

He later admitted he had taken the money home, and took P2,000 from it to buy a knapsack. He voluntarily surrendered the money to Cabanag at his residence.

Paclauna told the DAILY STAR he was tempted to fabricate the story because of financial problems, and asked for forgiveness from the bank, that he has served for more than six years now.

Bank officer-in-charge Jane Mijares said that, for humanitarian reasons, the management has decided not to pursue criminal charges against Paclauna, but only to terminate him without any benefits.

Cabanag said he directed his investigators to be extra cautious in docketing alleged hold-up incidents, as these claims are not always true.*JG

back to top