Caraga RTC court ransacked by robbers; losses nearly P150-T judiciary deposits

by Ben Serrano

July 29, 2009

BUTUAN CITY- Nearly P150,000.00 cash money and jewelries deposited inside court premises as court exhibits and fiduciary deposits and other personal belongings were robbed by still unidentified robbers who ransacked the Regional Trial Court Branch 41 office situated at Herrera St., Cantilan, Surigao del Sur midnight of July 24, belated police reports reaching this region’s capital.

Caraga Police Regional Information Office here said the robbery incident was discovered by court security guard Ritche Ravelo Saren Saturday afternoon (July 25) at 1:18 p.m. who immediately sought police assistance.

Cantilan town, one of the biggest town in Surigao del Sur and in Caraga Region, is about 160 kilometers away from Butuan City, the region’s capital.

Cantilan police immediately proceeded to the crime scene and discovered the suspects forcibly entered the court room by destroying glass window of the court room’s comfort room.

Carted away were court exhibits (jewelries) allegedly deposited inside the steel cabinet of the said court worth more or less P30,000.00 and cash money and were inventoried by Carmencita A. Ganabe, OIC, Clerk of Court as follows;

RTC collections – P87,034.00; publication – P5,000.00; personal money (Carmencita Ganabe) – P3,800.00; Check of Judge Jalad (Honorarium-Carrascal) – P1,500.00; Check of Delia A. Salang – P3,333.63; executed amount in MCTC Cantilan civil case no. 406 – P11,024.00; exhibits in criminal case no. 424 – P2,594.00; surface funds – P250.00; and assorted jewelries exhibit in criminal case no. C-670 worth 29,685.00 with total amount of P141,970.63.

Police report said further investigation revealed that the combination lock of the vault was no longer functioning and it was solely protected with a cabinet lock but capable to be opened by other keys

Police said they are looking into an angle of inside job considering that the suspect/s did not search and carted any other important and valuable items inside the office aside from said court vault.

Cantilan Municipal Police office said they are still conducting thorough investigation for immediate identification of the perpetrator and for filing appropriate charges in court.