BROADCASTER Anthony Taberna yesterday filed 175 counts of qualified theft before the Quezon City prosecutor’s office against a former employee of his restaurant “Ka Tunying’s Cafe” and a branch manager of EastWest Bank for allegedly conspiring to steal more than P15 million from his company.
Taberna, a former ABS-CBN talent whose radio program Dos for Dos with Gerry Baja is now aired on dzRH, filed the complaint against Ernie Patrick Aquino, former finance and administrative head of A. Taberna Foods, Inc. (Taberna Foods), and Gualberto Baluyut II, manager of Eastwest Banking Corp (EastWest Bank) UP Village branch.
Taberna said that as finance head, Aquino was responsible for handling the payroll, sales and financial documents of the company and had access to the corporate accounts of Taberna Foods with EastWest Bank, UP Village.
“He gravely abused the trust and confidence reposed upon him by opening several bank accounts without the knowledge or consent of Taberna Foods. He connived with branch manager Baluyut who allowed him to open several accounts in behalf of Taberna Foods without presenting any Secretary’s Certificate or Board Resolution showing his authority to represent the company,” said Taberna, who is represented by lawyers from the Gana-Atienza-Avisado law office.
As he had sole access to the accounts, the complainant said Aquino was able to facilitate numerous unauthorized transfers from company bank accounts to his personal accounts from August 2018 to November 2020.
