Aid org loses relief goods kept at CICC

CEBU, Philippines - Eight sacks of rice for a Capitol senior citizen program and relief goods intended for typhoon victims stored at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) in Mandaue City have been stolen.

Gawad Kalinga, a non-government organization, confirmed the loss, adding that the incident got recorded by a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera.

“We are informing the general public that the Gawad Kalinga Cebu Management Team has reviewed the CCTV footage of the incident. We would like to state that entry into the GK storage area at the CICC on June 18, 2014 and the withdrawal of goods on said date were unauthorized,” read a letter furnished to the media.

GK said a committee has been formed to coordinate with the Cebu Provincial Government, which owns the CICC, for further action on the matter.

“We are currently doing our own investigation,” stated the letter, which was signed by GK head Toby Florendo and other officers of the organization.

The FREEMAN contacted the GK office for more details but was told that the organization would issue an additional statement once the investigation, which is set this weekend, is done.

Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation, Inc. has been involved in post-Yolanda activities, such as rebuilding of houses, in northern Cebu.

Capitol Chief of Security Loy Anthony madrigal confirmed that six to eight sacks of rice kept at CICC had been stolen.

He said those who took goods from GK’s storage area and that of the Capitol’s belong to the same group.

Madrigal said he was not discounting the possibility of an inside job.

He said Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III had directed them to conduct an immediate investigation into the incident.

Madrigal said his team will coordinate with the Mandaue Police Station in the conduct of an investigation.

“Magpadala sila (GK) og team to coordinate with us. We will do it as fast as we can,” he said.

GK also reminded the public to report to them any person who approaches them and claim as being part of the organization. GK could be reach through (032) 266 1288 in Cebu City.—/RHM (FREEMAN)