Casino guard steals P2.8M

CEBU, Philippines - Police are now on the hunt for a security officer of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) Casino Filipino who allegedly carted away at least P2.8 million from the office vault.

Police identified the internal security officer as Pascual Urian, Jr., 29, who was able to escape from pursuing authorities amid the heavy rain. As of press time, police have yet to catch him.

The incident happened inside a branch of the PAGCOR-Casino Filipino in a mall at the Mandaue City Reclamation Area in Mandaue City.

 A report from the Investigation and Detective Management Branch (IDMB) of the Mandaue City Police Office showed that the security cameras installed at the office and the vault itself caught Urian stealing the money.

The incident

Urian entered the treasury cash vault at 12:50 a.m. and took the cash. He was then seen placing the cash inside a plastic bag before going to the employees’ exit door at the back portion of the establishment.

External security officer Violeta Ansigbat asked Urian why he was bringing such a big amount. But instead of answering, the suspect ran outside despite the rain.

Insp. Ramil Morpos, deputy chief of IDMB, said Pagcor’s security officers tried to chase Urian but he was able to get on a taxicab and fled Ansigbat called for police assistance.

According to bystanders, Morpos said, Urian threw some cash in the air before getting in the taxi.

“Nanglabay siya og kwarta most probably to divert the attention sa mga tawo. Abi sad sa mga tawo na nagpailog siya og kwarta kay daugan siya sa casino,” said Morpos in an interview with The FREEMAN. (He threw money to divert the attention of the people who just thought he had won in the casino.)

Since it was raining hard, Morpos said there were few bystanders who grappled for the money. But personnel from the MCPO’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, whose office is stationed inside the mall, came and recovered the cash.

They failed to arrest the suspect, though. No one was able to get the cab’s plate number.

Urian, who hails from Bohol, temporarily resides in Cubacob, Mandaue City.

Morpos said they searched for the suspect in several places, including the houses of his workmates who were not at work during the incident.

But Morpos, in a later interview, said they now have a possible idea where the suspect is hiding.

Part of the investigation is the taxi driver’s possible connivance with Urian, Morpos said.

He said they are also checking if Urian is in cahoots with somebody else, considering his boldness in taking the money from the big establishment.

Coordinating with police

Officials of the Casino Filipino at Parkmall Satellite Branch are closely coordinating with the police for the immediate arrest of Urian. Photographs of Urian were already made public.

Renato Osmeña Jr., branch manager of Casino Filipino Parkmall Satellite Branch, said that Urian had worked as internal security officer at the casino for more than four years now.

Osmeña said Urian was assigned not only at the Parkmall Satellite Branch but also at the Waterfront Casino in Lahug, Cebu City and also at Waterfront Casino at Mactan.

According to Osmeña, they are now closely coordinating with the Mandaue City police investigators handling the case.

Four employees of the casino, mostly assigned at the security department, were asked by the investigators to provide statements on the incidents. — /JPM (FREEMAN)