Villamor ‘volunteers’ nabbed for theft

Villamor Air Base in Pasay City,  where evacuees from typhoon-hit areas in the Visayas region have been arriving on mercy flights, is attracting the wrong type of “volunteer”— people who are not there to offer their help but to help themselves to the relief goods meant for the victims.

Earlier, the Air Force reported that 25 people have been arrested since Nov. 16 at the air base after they were caught stealing relief goods. When accosted, they identified themselves either as volunteers or evacuees.

On Wednesday, a 35-year-old man from Cavite province was arrested after he reportedly posed as a military man at Villamor Air Base and stole relief goods meant for Supertyphoon “Yolanda” victims.

According to a police report, Dexter Basilio was arrested based on a complaint filed by staffers of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The police said that at 11 p.m. on Wednesday, DSWD workers spotted Basilio carrying relief items at the grandstand inside the air base.

Case investigator SPO1 Ariel Inciong said that when accosted, Basilio identified himself as a military man who was helping out in the distribution of relief goods. He even showed as proof a military badge which authorities later determined to be fake.

Among the things that Basilio reportedly stole were 16 stuffed toys, slippers, rubber shoes, feeding bottles and clothes.

Charged with theft and usurpation of authority, he remains detained at the Pasay police detention.

Air Force spokesperson Col. Ernesto Miguel Okol said that most of the suspected thieves were arrested on Nov. 23. They were later turned over by Air Force security to the Pasay City police station. With  Nikko Dizon