Christmas in EV “generally peaceful” - Soria

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
December 26, 2012

CAMP SEC. RUPERTO K. KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte – The Christmas celebrations in Eastern Visayas was generally peaceful except for two fire incidents on Christmas eve and a burglary incident monitored by the police, Regional Director Police Chief Superintendent Elmer Ragadio Soria said.

“While the people in the region are enjoying the Christmas eve and Christmas day celebrations with their families and loved ones, our policemen were on duty patrolling the streets so that our citizens can celebrate and enjoy the holidays peacefully,” Soria added.

Soria noted the only incident that marred Christmas Day was a burglary in a parish convent in Tacloban City and two separate fires that hit a residential house in Tacloban City and public market of Can-avid in Eastern Samar.

The region’s top police official has ordered a massive hunt for the thieves who carted away the personal belongings of Rev. Fr. Aaron Quilanita of Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Parish along Maharlika Highway in Brgy. 78, Marasbaras, Tacloban City.

Investigators disclosed that the suspects may have entered between 1:00 o’ clock to 3:00 o’ clock in the morning of December 25 by bending the window grills of the parish convent. When the suspect/s were already inside, they went to the second floor and since the room of the Parish Priest was locked, they opened the sliding door leading to the terrace and using the cantilever on the side, went to the window of the room of Fr. Quilanita, bended the welded portion of the window grills and from there gain entry to the room.

The burglars carted away one unit Apple laptop computer worth P60,000.00; four wristwatches branded Fossil, Bullova, Mossimo and Dilligaf wristwatch; one unit LCD projector and two mobile phones.

In Sunnyville Subdivision in Manlurip, Brgy. San Jose also in Tacloban City, fire hit the house of Central Bank employee Allen Boquin at around 7:30 in the evening of Christmas eve, damaging the kitchen with an estimated P50,000.00 worth of damages.

Earlier that day, fire also hit the rear portion of Can-avid Public market in Eastern Samar with estimated damages amounting to two million pesos.

Soria said earlier that though PRO8 had not monitored any security threats during the yuletide season, it raised its security alert status to ensure a peaceful Yuletide celebration.