The management of a parking area in Ortigas Center where an Asian Development Bank (ADB) employee lost her valuables when thieves broke into her sports utility vehicle has promised to investigate the incident, but remains firm that they are not responsible for her loss.
Secure-Citiparking Philippines Corp., represented by Gilda Salonga, said they will conduct further inquiries into the Sept. 12 theft of the personal belongings of ADB procurement officer Cecille Tuason and her husband Ferdie.
“The company will investigate other measures to further reduce the isolated incidents at the car park,” the parking lot operator stated in a statement sent to The STAR, in reply to a Sept. 21 article regarding the incident.
The parking lot operator said it is “sympathetic to the Tuasons and empathizes with the couple,” who lost their belongings, including a laptop bag, when they parked their Ford Everest (ZRO-123) between the ADB building and the Podium mall.
The firm said it is a “professional” car park operator with 800 car parks throughout Australia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East and “manages prestigious establishments such as the Sydney and Melbourne Airports in Australia.”
Despite repeated demands from Tuason for an insurance compensation, the company – through operations manager Dick Wake – refused, saying they do not accept liability for “third party damages caused by would-be thieves.”
“A reminder is given to all car owners to take an active role in preventing such incidents by not leaving anything on car seats inside their vehicles such as bags, laptops, money or other items of interest that would lure criminal elements to commit such crimes,” the firm said.
The Tuason couple lamented that they did not get any assistance from Secure the day they lost their belongings. They were instead assisted by a traffic team from Ortigas Center and another security team from the nearby Podium. – Delon Porcalla