CEBU, Philippines - A Capitol canteen employee was brought to the Fuente Police Station yesterday for allegedly pilfering relief packs stockpiled outside the Cebu Provincial Social Development Office (PSWDO).
The act was caught by a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera.
A Nov. 29 footage showed the woman, whose name The FREEMAN is withholding pending the filing of a criminal complaint, hovering near and then picking up packs of relief goods, which are intended for northern Cebu typhoon victims.
Anthony Loy Madrigal, Capitol security chief, said the woman is an employee of a Capitol canteen concessionaire. He said the woman was invited last Friday for questioning and initially denied the thievery.
She, however, was forced to admit her crime after she was shown the footage in the presence of the canteen personnel and PSWDO staff.
Madrigal asked her to return what she took.
"Kanang mga tawo nga nagbuhat og ingon ani, nagpahimulos sa higayon. Di ta mo-tolerate ana (People who do something like this are taking advantage of the situation. We do not tolerate such acts),"he said.
He said he has yet to determine the amount of the items taken.
At noon yesterday, the woman returned six canned goods, a bottled water, and a pack of rice.
The FREEMAN tried to get her side but the canteen owner prevented us from doing so.
Another set of recording also showed the same woman pilfering relief goods in two previous occasions. She was first caught by the CCTV camera on Nov. 12 at around 5:50 a.m.; the second time happened on Nov. 28.
Madrigal said they found out the theft after doing their weekly review of CCTV tapes.
He said that civilian guards are assigned to secure the area where the relief goods are placed but the woman managed to evade detection.
"Pero nakalusot gihapon, kami ra siguroy bantayan ba; pero wa gyod sila kalusot sa (She managed to get past the guard, but not the) CCTV," he added.
Madrigal has also referred the matter to the Provincial Administrator and recommended the filing of a theft charge.
The legal office has yet to take up possible actions against the canteen employee.
PO2 Gelo Destacamento of the Fuente Police Station said the woman was brought to their office but was released after an investigation. He, however, stressed that the subject may face a criminal complaint for theft.
Meanwhile, PSWDO head Evelyn Senajon said she was saddened by the incident, saying the relief goods are stored in the Capitol for the food-for-work program of the northern Cebu local government units.
"Sakit paminawon kay (It is painful) for us unta ba. Malipay unta ta kay kita ang nitabang kaysa sa kita ang tabangon (We should be happy that we are the ones giving aid, not the ones being helped)," said Senajon.
She assured that the incident has nothing to do with the reported lack of relief packs sent to different towns in northern Cebu.
Further, she said everyone must be vigilant enough and not complacent to avoid the same incident. (FREEMAN)