Investors alarmed over lootings in SBMA

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Residents here, composed mostly of investors and prominent personalities, expressed alarm over the rampant lootings in the housing area of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) despite the supposed tight security measures imposed by authorities.

Sources disclosed that a series of lootings have been reported inside the Kalayaan Housing area where most of the foreign investors, local businessmen and high-ranking officials of the SBMA are residing.

The most recent incident was the robbery of a 90-kilo brass-made propeller shaft of a luxury yacht at the house of the late national artist Leandro Locsin, not far from the SBMA security detachment in Kalayaan.

"Until now, the case of the missing propeller remains a puzzle to its owner considering that the item is quite heavy that even three-men could not easily lift it," the source said.

Other cases reported include the theft of centralized airconditionings units from the houses leased to a certain Mr. Labos and a Mr. Ocampo along Finback street.

It was also reported that the residential unit of former Tourism Secretary Mina Gabor was burglarized while thieves took fixtures of several vacant housing facilities being maintained by the SBMA.

Sources added that all these cases remain unsolved.

Residents appealed to new SBMA Chairman Feliciano Salonga and Administrator Arman Arreza to investigate the looting cases that could not possibly be accomplished without alleged conspiracy with some erring law enforcers.

"The good reputation of the Freeport being a safe place for investors is not the only thing that is at stake here but the safety of our lives and properties," an irate American resident who asked not to be named said.

The STAR tried but failed to get the side of the SBMA Law Enforcement Department office and was told by the desk officer that any information related to lootings could be released only by its head, Col. Jaime Calungsad.