Robbers strike at Defense reporters’ office inside main military camp

By Ronron
September 24, 2007

Suspected robbers took three Central Processing Units (CPU’s) of computer sets inside the Defense Press Corps (DPC) office at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, members of the DPC discovered on Monday morning.

Pilipino Star Ngayon (tabloid) reporter Joy Cantos was the first to discover the missing computer parts when she arrived at the DPC office at around 10am. She said the door was closed but not locked, indicating no sign of forcible entry.

The last person to leave the office was this reporter, who left shortly past 9pm on Sunday. Upon leaving, this reporter made sure the door was locked.

Outgoing DPC President Verlin Ruiz, reporter of Remate (tabloid), said the three computer CPU’s belong to the sets being used by him, Victor Reyes of Malaya broadsheet, and Anthony Vargas of Manila Times broadsheet.

The three CPU’s were recently acquired by the DPC as Christmas gifts by donors. Ruiz estimates each of the CPU to cost around P30,000.00.

The computer users said the missing CPU’s contain only their stories and transcripts of several previous interviews. Ruiz said his also had personal profiles of DPC members.

“We strongly condemn in the strongest terms this incident of burglary, which happened right inside a military camp. We can not discount the possibility that it could be an inside job or this is a form of harassment against the DPC,” Ruiz said.

AFP Public Information Officer Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, whose office is located adjacent to the DPC office, said the incident is now being investigated both by the AFP Military Police battalion and the Philippine National Police./DMS