SURIGAO CITY (MindaNews/27 September)–Thieves ransacked the city’s legislative and budget offices Friday dawn, taking away a still undetermined amount of cash and jewelries of employees, Supt. Joseph Nohara, city police chief, said
He declined to give more details pending the outcome of the investigation on the two government offices, which are about 50 meters apart.
Marietta Samson, acting city budget officer, said the suspects forcibly opened her drawer and steel cabinet.
She, however, said that the robbers failed to take away her P7,000 cash hidden somewhere in the steel cabinet.
Samson said her officemates lost some cash and jewelries as the robbers also forcibly open all the three rooms of the office.
Edelyn Ferma, supervising administrative officer of the budget office, said she lost P9,000 in personal cash and P6,000 office petty cash to the thieves.
“It’s a total mess,” she said, referring to her table.
Genedina Tolibas, another city budget office employee, said the thieves took away her P28,000 cash, two necklaces worth P30,000, a ring, earrings and various foreign currencies she kept as collections.
She said the robbers gained entry at the back of their office through the glass window.
At the city’s legislative office, Vice Mayor Danilo Menor said the suspects entered through a small window at the comfort room.
He did not lost anything although the robbers were believed to have taken away a still undetermined amount of cash from the staff of some city councilors.
Ericson Ibon, a city legislative office worker, said the robbers did not take the laptops of the different legislative offices.
“I think the robbers were looking for cash and other small valuable items,” he said.
Mayor Ernesto Matugas declined to comment on the incident pending the meeting with the police, Civil Security Unit (CSU) and the vice mayor’s office.
Jupiter Dotillos, CSU officer-in-charge, said they will review the footage of all the closed-circuit television cameras at the city hall compound.
In the past three months, burglars have ransacked the treasury offices in the towns of Sison, San Francisco, Tubod, Bacuag and Alegria, all in Surigao del Norte, taking away cash, checks and some government receipts. (Roel Catoto/MindaNews)
