MANILA, Philippines — Three unidentified men attempted to rob a storage unit containing relief goods for victims of the strong quakes that recently rocked Mindanao, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported.
PCG spokesperson Capt. Armando Balilo said that three men broke into the storage unit located in Port Area, Manila, at 12:30 a.m. Sunday.
This is after PCG personnel started loading relief goods, medicines, tents and water to one of its vessels, the BRP Malabrigo.
The three men took three cellphones and a bag from the on-duty PCG personnel; however, no relief items were stolen.
“At around 12:30 am kanina, pinasok ‘yung bodega sa Gwapotel ng tatlong lalaki. Dumaan sa bintana tapos binuksan yung entrance door,” Balilo told INQUIRER.net in a text message.
(At 12:30 a.m., three men broke into the storage unit by passing through the window and opening the door).
“They took three cellphones and a bag from our duty personnel. Wala namang nakuhang relief items (No relief items were taken),” he added.
He added that the said vessel will be leaving for Davao on Sunday night. But it will still pass by Zamboanga to collect more relief goods.
To ensure the security of the storage unit, Balilo said the PCG will deploy more personnel and even K-9 dogs.
“May mga dumadating pa na relief (More relief goods are coming),” the PCG official said.
The relief goods were donated by Presidential Management Staff, Department of Health, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and private donors, Balilo said. /je