SAN Jose City, Nueva Ecija -- A roving bank teller is hunted for allegedly carting away over P4 million in cash deposits last Tuesday.

Supt. Sidney N. Villaflor, city police chief, identified the suspect as Nelson Venturina, of Curamen Subd., Bgy. Sibut, this city, assigned as pick-up teller of a local Metro Bank branch.

Police said Mauricio Tallara, 42, Metro Bank junior assistant manager, of Ramar Subd., Bgy. Malasin, complained to the police that the suspect did not return to work last Tuesday after stealing P4 million of the bank’s collection that day and the money intended for a local branch of Villarica Pawnshop.

The bank learned of the missing amount after conducting an audit of the suspect’s total collection and after Villarica pawnshop called that their money was not yet delivered.

Investigators said Venturina, escorted by two bank security guards, left the bank at 9:16 a.m. on board a an armored car to pick up deposits from clients and to deliver P2 million to Villarica Pawnshop.

At mid-noon, the suspect returned, posted his daily collection of only P2.1 million and left again to pick up money for the bank’s operation from Metro Bank Cabanatuan City branch. However, he did not remit the amount to Leila T. Stuka, the bank’s operation officer for vaulting.

Stuka called the suspect on his mobile phone but the latter said he just forgot to deliver the money to Villarica.

Police filed a criminal complaint for qualified theft against the suspect, who is now the object of a manhunt.