SEVERAL STUDENT volunteers reported cases of robbery during the relief operations held in the college covered courts last November 14.
Complaints of lost bags and gadgets were reported to the security personnel of the relief operations.
Sophomore Camilla Galang, one of the complainants, said she noticed her bag missing at 1:10 PM, when she was about to leave for class. She left her things in court 1, the leftmost part of the covered courts, near the entrance.
Galang reportedly lost her bag, which contained her 15-inch Macbook, her wallet and her books.
There were three more complainants who filed written report cases of loss. However, the Office of the Associate Dean for Student Affairs (ADSA) has not released further information, as investigation is still ongoing.
“We can’t release any information yet about the ongoing investigation, even the names of the students. We just want to make sure that these are verified cases of theft,” said Assistant to the ADSA for Services Cholo Mallillin said.
John Gokongwei School of Management Chairperson JV Poe said he finds it alarming to know that these reported cases happened before the relief operations were officially opened to outsiders.
“We thought keeping it closed to the community would make it a safer place, and I think it did, but then it goes to show that even in the community, there are still going to be people who will steal unprotected bags,” Poe added.
The relief operations in the Ateneo, which lasted from November 12 to 17, were initiated by the Ateneo Disaster Response and Management (Dream) Team as a way to help those affected by Typhoon Yolanda.
The relief operations of the Ateneo Dream Team were included in the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) satellite repacking stations to help meet DSWD’s quote of 2.04 million family food packs.
Security measures
During the first day of the relief operations, volunteers were instructed to leave their bags in court 1. However, there were no safety measures implemented to secure the items at the time.
Immediately after the robbery incidents, new safety measures were enforced.
According to Poe, the court 1 area had its sides blocked and guards were stationed to monitor the volunteers’ belongings. A total of four security personnel were also made to guard the entrances to the covered courts.
When the 24-hour operations started, volunteers’ belongings were transferred to the covered courts’ Multi-Purpose Room before midnight. A guard was assigned to stay at the entrance of the room.
Volunteers were also asked to leave their identification cards with their belongings so the guards could check the identity of those who wished to claim their belongings from the designated baggage area.
Editor’s Note: Camilla Galang is a member of The GUIDON’s Katipunan staff.
