Magpale apologizes to donors for CICC robbery

CEBU Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale yesterday apologized to donors of relief goods that were stolen inside the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) in Mandaue City last July 18.

Though the looted items were stored by Gawad Kalinga, Magpale said she was saddened by the loss of several relief goods which could have been distributed to victims of supertyphoon Yolanda.

“I feel bad about it. Even if most of the stolen goods were used clothes, still it’s not an excuse. We just have to apologize and say sorry,” she said in an interview yesterday.

Magpale suggested that Gov. Hilario Davide III temporarily hire security guards to secure the CICC while waiting for the post-qualification evaluation of security agencies that submitted bids to detail guards at the Capitol and its properties.

The vice governor said the theft incident inside the CICC is “isolated.”

Davide said he’s still waiting for a report from Capitol security officer Loy Madrigal whom he requested to beef up security.

“I told him (Madrigal) to coordinate with the Mandaue City police if they can augment the security at the CICC to discourage criminal elements at the building,” he told reporters.

For the moment, two informal “watchmen” and a security guard provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) watch over the CICC. Cebu provincial administrator Mark Tolentino will inspect the CICC today.

Madrigal earlier released closed circuit TV footage of the CICC, showing a group of men hauling out boxes and putting them in a trolley between 7 p.m. and midnight of July 18. The identity of the looters remain unknown.

Gawad Kalinga Cebu head Antonio Florendo said they are doing a separate investigation of the incident. Most of the stolen items were used clothes.

Magpale hopes the remaining relief goods would be distributed to typhoon victims.

“As far as the Cebu provincial government is concerned, we continue to distribute relief goods to victims of the supertyphoon,” she said.