Former La Trinidad PNB credit investigator nabbed for graft, corruption cases

By March Fianza

BAGUIO CITY -- After 23 years of eluding arrest, a former bank employee was arrested by elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group here along with personnel of Baguio City Police Office.
    CIDG regional chief Juliet G. Salvador in a news release identified the bank employee as Josefina Salcedo Lopez who was nabbed evening of June 6 at her residence along Camella St., Upper QM Subdivision. Lopez was arrested by virtue of a standing warrant of arrest for nine counts of violating the anti-graft and corrupt practices or RA 3019 issued by then Presiding Judge Fernando P. Cabato of RTC Branch 62, La Trinidad, Benguet.
    Court cases filed in the mid-90s revealed that Lopez who was then employed as Credit Investigator III at the Philippine National Bank of the La Trinidad Branch (PNB-La Trinidad) took advantage of her position as head of the bank’s credit committee.
    It was alleged in the case files that Lopez gave unwarranted favors to loan applicants under the Discounting Line Against Post Dated Checks (DLAPC) without complying with requirements of submitting collaterals.
    This has been going on until 1998.
    While the warrant was being returned with the presentation of Lopez in court at the Benguet Justice Hall afternoon of June 7, CIDG personnel served four more warrants of arrest against the accused representing 77 additional counts for the same violation.
    This is proof that no matter how long criminals evade arrest, 23 years in this case, the long arm of the law always catches them.
    Lopez is now detained at the BJMP in Benguet.