Trader accuses staff of fleecing sales

BUSINESSMAN Alan Varga had been losing money for almost two years on a gasoline station he put up in Barangay Pitogo, Consolacion. He thought there was a leak in the underground tanks and lines because while the gas station’s fuel supply had to be replenished, its sales were almost negligible.

Varga had experts check the fuel tanks of GV’s Consolacion gas station but they found nothing wrong.

The businessman suspected then that his employees—the supervisor, cashier and pump attendant—were behind his losses amounting to P2.5 million, accumulated since the gas station opened in 2010.

Last Wednesday, the Consolacion Police arrested the three: Jemmil Noval, 28, of Barangay Poblacion Occidental, Consolacion; Kathleen Kate Bantiles, 22, of Barangay Bahak, Liloan; and Cliffer Paler, 23, of Barangay Casili, Consolacion.

Bantiles allegedly admitted to her employer that she manipulated the sales report of the gas station and the actual calibration of the fuel pumps.

She returned to Varga P10,000 in cash, which she allegedly took last Wednesday.

Noval turned over P17,000. He said the amount is part of what he allegedly stole from the gas station since 2010.

“Kinsa pama'y laing mapasanginlan niya? Sila ramang tulo ang nagpalakad sa gas station (Who else can he suspect? They were running the gas station),” said PO2 Richie Gapo of the Consolacion Police.

Complaints of qualified theft were filed against the suspects before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor's Office yesterday.