A former houseboy was arrested in Quezon City after he was caught with P27 million worth of jewelry and P100,000 in cash he stole from his former employer, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Friday, Nov. 3.

In a statement, the NBI identified the suspect as Aldrin Cajolo delos Santos who was arrested by operatives of the NBI Anti-Organized and Transnational Crime Division (NBI-AOTCD) at the house of his employer in Quezon City last Oct. 26.

“Recovered from the Subject were various jewelry belonging to the Complainant amounting to P27,005,000 and a bundle of cash amounting to P100,000,” the NBI said. 

Delos Santos was presented for inquest before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office on Oct. 27 for theft as defined and penalized under Article 309 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), as amended by Republic Act 10951.

The NBI said the complainant, who was not identified, told investigators that Delos Santos had worked as a houseboy for six years until he resigned last Sept. 1.

“A month after the resignation of Subject, Complainant discovered that more than P7,000,000 worth of her jewelry were missing,” it said.  

“Review of the CCTV (closed circuit television camera) footages revealed that on Oct. 05, 2023, Subject entered her room through the laundry area,” the NBI said. The complainant sought the help of the NBI, it said.

The NBI said its operatives started to monitor the residence of the complainant after the complainant's house cleaner said that Delos Santos asked the time of the departure of the employer. 

“Thus, on Oct. 26, 2023, Subject was monitored by the NBI operatives and was seen entering the house, proceeding at the back portion of the house and stealthily climbing up to the room of the Complainant,” it said.  

“A few moments later, Subject was seen exiting the house carrying a paper bag and a black body bag,” it also said.  After the search, Delos Santos was arrested, it added.