A 43-year-old truck driver was arrested and jailed after he misappropriated P40,000 from his company's collections to place bets on the online gambling game 'scatter' on Thursday evening, June 25, 2026.
The suspect was identified as Melvin Claro Galo, a truck driver for an enterprise and a resident of Barangay Guadalupe, Carcar City. He was apprehended by the management of a housing materials store located at M.J. Cuenco Avenue, corner F. Gotchan Street, Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City, at around 6:30 p.m.
Details of the Misappropriation
Galo was turned over to the police after the store's delivery-in-charge, Glen Gaspan, 37, filed a complaint. According to the investigation by the Mabolo Police Station, Galo was entrusted with collecting payments from customers.
On that day, Galo collected a total of P149,623 from sales. However, he remitted only P109,000 to the store, leaving a shortage of P40,623.
When confronted by management, Galo admitted that he had used the missing money to bet on 'scatter,' hoping to win and recover the amount. Instead, he lost all the money and was unable to recoup any of it.
Legal Consequences
Galo now faces a charge of Qualified Theft and is detained at the Mabolo Police Station. He expressed deep regret and apologized to the company for his actions.
According to the police, Galo's case highlights the dangers of gambling addiction and the severe legal consequences of misappropriating company funds.
