BAGUIO CITY – A former bank employee wanted for graft and corruption was arrested by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and Baguio City Police Office here last June 6 after 23 years of hiding.
The suspect, Josefina Salcedo Lopez, 69, was nabbed at her residence for violating Section 3 (e) of Republic Act (RA) 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Lopez was arrested through a warrant issued by Judge Fernando P. Cabato of the Branch 62, Regional Trial Court, First Judicial Region, La Trinidad, Benguet.
Investigation revealed that since 1992, Lopez, who was a Credit Investigator III at the Philippine National Bank (PNB) branch in La Trinidad, took advantage of her position as chairman of the bank’s credit committee.
She allegedly gave unwarranted preferences or favors in approving several loan applications under the Discounting Line Against Postdated Checks (DLAPC) without complying with the documentary and collateral requirements of the bank.
The accused has been reported dispensing favors to loan applicants until 1998.
Last June 7 at around 4:45 p.m. while the warrant was being returned and the accused was being presented at the La Trinidad Justice Hall, CIDG served four more warrants of arrest against her for graft and corruption.
Lopez is detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in La Trinidad.