City administrator loses cell phone inside office

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu City Administrator Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez lost his mobile phone right inside his office noontime the other day.

A matter which, according to his assistant Juvy Morelos, needs to be looked upon by City Hall's security system.

Fernandez’ Samsung Blackjack was found out to be lost at noontime Monday at his desk inside his office at the eighth floor of the Executive Building.

Morelos said that Fernandez was then at the conference room of his office busy listening to the concerns of some informal settlers.

She said that there were a lot of people inside the office - residents of Alaska-Mambaling, reporters, and other clients of the city administrator.

It was only after the meeting that they found out the cellular phone was missing.

The cellphone, Morelos said, is issued by the City Hall and is one of the most expensive phones of Samsung.

“It would have been better if the spy cams were also placed in offices where there are lots of people,” Morelos said.

According to her, Fernandez wished that the cellphone and the SIM (Subscriber’s Identity Module) be returned to him even if he has to pay for the said items.

She said Fernandez is afraid that the thief or the holder might make use of the numbers of personalities in his phonebook to make prank calls or text messages, and abuse or blackmail them.

In January, Roberto Cabarrubias of the committee on information and technology of the City Council installed 10 surveillance cameras at the City Hall but that these are yet in the “very public places.”

It was further learned that two cameras were installed at the ground floor and one on each level fronting the elevator.

Cabarrubias said that the next project will include the interior of offices particularly that of the City Treasurer’s Office where clients often visit for computation and payment of taxes. – Ferliza C. Contratista/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)