CEBU, Philippines - Three minors who volunteered to help prepare relief packs at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) in Mandaue City were caught trying to steal some goods Wednesday night, prompting authorities to request the police to guard the venue.
Nila Fidellaga,Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda)-7 information officer said that they have already requested for police personnel to be detailed at different points of their assembly lines after the minors, ages 16, 14, and 12 were caught taking some of the goods during their packing shift.
“We really need their help in guard the relief goods,†Fidellaga said.
The minors, all residents of Barangay Tipolo, Mandaue, were turned over by the police to the City Social Welfare Service (CSWS) office.
Police investigation showed that after ending their shift past 11 p.m., the three minors passed by the exit gate where Tesda employee Lera Momogan checked their bags.
To her surprise, she saw canned goods and sachets of coffee in the bags, forcing her fellow employees to call the Centro Police station.
PO2 Earl Famador said that after an investigation, the minors turned over to the CSWS, where they were made to undergo a “diversion program†together with their parents, who were then reminded of their moral obligation in the proper upbringing of their children.
Fidellaga hoped that the presence of policemen would prevent others from doing the same thing, as the need for additional volunteers requires that they just accept all volunteers without checking their respective backgrounds.
She said, though, that during the orientation prior to the assignment of shifts, volunteers are told to be vigilant and to immediately report any suspicious actions of fellow volunteers. — /RHM (FREEMAN)