Cases of smartphone theft are common but usually, they happen in sketchy neighborhoods or crowded malls and not in a government office. But Akbayan Party-list Rep. Tom Villarin told reporters today that that’s exactly what happened to him.
Villarin said that he has filed charges against Department of Labor and Employment Undersecretary Jacinto Paras at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office for allegedly stealing his iPhone X in March.
And apparently, the undersecretary was stealth about it too.
Villarin said the alleged stealing happened during a congressional hearing with the committee on labor when Paras approached him for a quick conversation.
The lawmaker then noticed that he had lost his iPhone X — which could cost up to PHP73,990 (US$1,403.35) — prompting him to review footage captured by the House of Representatives’ CCTV camera, The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.
Through the security video, Villarin said Paras can be seen placing his phone on top of the iPhone X and picking up both phones before walking away and going to a different room in the building’s second floor where the iPhone X was found.
According to ABS-CBN News, Paras has denied the allegations.
Villarin suspects his phone was stolen because Paras was trying to get information against fellow Akbayan member and Senator Risa Hontiveros.
Last year, Paras filed charges against Hontiveros for allegedly “harboring” underage witnesses for the slain teenager Kian delos Santos’ case and for allegedly violating the anti-wiretapping law when the senator revealed a photo of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II texting a certain “Cong. Jing.”
Paras, who is also known by the nickname “Jing,” was a congressperson for the province of Negros Oriental before becoming undersecretary.
Hontiveros revealed the photo, which shows Aguirre telling “Cong. Jing” to “expedite” cases they have filed against her, during a privilege speech in September when she alleged that Aguirre was “plotting” against her.
Not your average phone theft, at all.
