‘CIA with BA’ weigh in on theft: Accountability must remain given different possible penalties
A viral video showing a woman picking the pocket of a shopper inside a grocery store sparked a deeper discussion on Cayetano in Action with Boy Abunda (CIA with BA).
Beyond the act itself, the hosts and legal experts explored a crucial question: does the punishment change depending on how much was stolen?
“Wala bang pagkakaiba kung ang ninakaw ay limang piso o isandaang piso?” Boy Abunda asked the legal experts.
“May pagkakaiba po ang parusa depende sa halaga ng ninakaw po ninyo,” Atty. Jackie Gan explained. “Dahil ang gusto ng batas ay maging makatarungan at maging proporsyonal po ‘yung penalty sa krimen na ginawa. Ibig sabihin, dapat kasabay ng bigat ng parusa ang bigat ng krimen.”
Atty. Gan cited examples to illustrate the law’s proportionality. If the stolen wallet contained ₱300, the offender may be imprisoned for one up to 30 days, depending on the court’s discretion. “Pero kung ang wallet ay branded o mamahalin, tapos may laman na 5 million pesos — maaari nang mapatawan ‘yan ng pagkakakulong hanggang 20 years,” she added.
Tito Boy then asked if a case would still be filed if the stolen item was returned.
“Yes. May kaso pa rin kahit pa naibalik o hindi man nagamit nung nagnakaw ‘yung pera o wallet na nakuha niya,” Atty. Marian Cayetano said, explaining that theft is already consummated once the item is unlawfully taken.
Relating the topic to the ongoing issue of corruption, Tito Boy emphasized that it’s important for people to understand how the law works even in seemingly small cases, because awareness of accountability helps promote honesty, especially in today’s climate.
He also asked about theft involving public funds: “Kung mapatunayang may pagnanakaw ng pondo ng bayan, may kaibahan ba ang parusa kung ang ninakaw ay halimbawa, 20 million, at 5 billion?”
“Ang plunder po ay isang krimen na may very specific threshold. 50 million above — that’s plunder,” explained Atty. Mark Demova.
Through this exchange, ‘CIA with BA’ reminded viewers that whether it’s five pesos or five billion, stealing remains a crime—and understanding the law is key to building a more just and accountable society.
The program, led by siblings Sen. Alan and Pia Cayetano along with Abunda, airs Sundays at 11:00 p.m. on GMA7, with replays on GTV every Saturday at 10:30 p.m.
