Utility worker caught stealing CPU at Capitol

CEBU, Philippines - A utility worker of the Cebu City Prosecutor's Office was arrested yesterday dawn after he was caught stealing a computer's central processing unit (CPU) from the Capitol's laboratory.

Algarme Carlo Labra, 45, from Green Village, Guadalupe, Cebu City is now detained at Fuente Police Station pending the filing of a case. Labra has been reportedly working for 11 years at the city prosecutor's office as utility worker.

His 15-year-old companion, however, managed to escape by exiting through the back of the legislative building when personnel of the Capitol security unit saw them.

Rosalio Tigle, head guard of the Tactical Security Agency at the Capitol, said the suspects barged into the laboratory room and stole the CPU covered with a T-shirt. The price of CPU ranges from P15,000 to P30,000.

"There were signs that they forcibly entered the soil and water laboratory room. A padlock has been hammered until the shackle broke," he said in vernacular.

Aside from CPU, the guards confiscated a screw driver from the suspect.

 The suspect belied that they stole the CPU, claiming that the guards were only planting the incriminating evidence.

According to Labra, they were just hunting for spiders and picking some firewood.

Dennis Goden, 30, said he was punching the attendance card at 4:40 a.m. when he heard a rustling noise behind the laboratory room, adjacent to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

"Nakadungog ko'g kasikas sa bakilid na bahin luyo sa laboratory maong akong gisusi," he said.

When Goden saw Labra and his companion, they immediately ran towards the forested area. There was no concrete fence at the back portion of the legislative building since it sits on the foot of a hill.

He said Labra also tried to escape but he slipped off his feet in the sloppy area, consequently resulting to his arrest.

"Ako siyang gisukit-sukit. Wa ko motuo niya nga mangahoy ug manguha'g kaka kay wa man gani siya dala'g suga nga makaiwag niya," he said.

The guards called Fuente Police Station to inform about the burglary incident. (FREEMAN)