BIR guard indicted for qualified theft

The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has indicted a Bureau of Internal RevenueRegional Office 13 security guard for allegedly stealing 14 reams of Mighty brand cigarettes stored as evidence against Mighty Corporation.

Prosecutor II Ma. Liza Jorda found probable cause to have Glenn Pilapil of Ginabsan-Alumnus, Basak Pardo, Cebu City put on trial for qualified theft.

She said Pilapil was given the chance to submit controverting evidence after a criminal complaint was filed against him but he did not.

“On the basis of the evidence presented, there is reasonable ground to believe that the crime has been committed and that accused is probably guilty thereof,” Jorda said.

A P24,000 bail was recommended for Pilapil’s temporary liberty while the case is pending before the court.

Lawyer Nico Benedict Lim filed the complaint against Pilapil on behalf of BIRRegional Office 13, which is located on Archbishop Reyes Avenue, Barangay Luz, Cebu City.

As alleged, at around 6 p.m. last March 29, Pilapil took several reams of confiscated mighty brand cigarettes at the BIR office that he was supposed to be guarding.

Pilapil was arrested after his fellow guards caught him in the act of opening the door of the BIR’s DPD building and hiding the reams of cigarettes placed inside a handbag at the back of the office’s canteen.

Lim said the confiscated cigarettes formed part of the physical evidence against Mighty Corporation, which BIR is investigated for using fake BIR stamp at that time. Each ream cost 183.

Pilapil was directed to submit his counter-affidavit to answer the allegation filed against him but he failed to do so.

Mylen P. Manto / RHM