MANILA (Updated) -- The panel of prosecutors from Cagayan de Oro City has dismissed the rebellion charges filed against employees of the United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) in Cagayan de Oro City who attempted to transport more than P30 million in cash to Cebu City last Sunday, June 25.
Cleared of rebellion charges were UCPB-Velez Cagayan de Oro branch teller Rhodelle Nagac, operations manager Rolando Limbo Jr., and branch manager Ma. Cecilia Lim; and UCPB security guards Leonilo Enterina, Reynaldo Puyos and Rolly Cervantes Estribor.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) arrested on Sunday night Nagac, Limbo Enterina and Puyos at the Port of Macabalan in Cagayan de Oro after they failed to show proper documents for the transport of P32.8 million in cash from the UCPB Velez branch to Jones Avenue branch in Cebu City.
According to the panel, although there were lapses in the respondents' arrest, these are not sufficient for the suspects to be charged with rebellion.
Likewise, their attempt to conceal the boxes containing cash could not be connected to acts of rebellion, it added.
"As there may be lapses on the part of the respondents in handling and transporting the said cash, the same would not suffice to persuade the mind of the prosecutors that the acts committed would suggest that herein respondents could have been properly guilty of the crime of rebellion or acts in furtherance thereof," the panel said.
The prosecutors said the money seized is now under the PCG's custody. They urged the PCG to coordinate with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for the safekeeping of the cash.
The panel also ordered the release of the armored van where the money was placed after presentation of necessary documents.
The panel's resolution will be referred to the office of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II for review. (SunStar Philippines)