EMO storage room burglarized

Some 63 boxes of disaster relief supplies worth $50,400 were stolen when burglars broke into a storage room of the Emergency Management Office on Capitol Hill, police said yesterday.

Maj. Edward H. Manalili said that, according to the EMO, the disaster relief packages, worth $800 each, were donated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Each box contained a tent, lantern, portable stove, cooking pot, fire extinguisher, and first aid kit, said Manalili, chief of the Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigation Bureau, who is also the acting DPS spokesman.

The major said that on Friday at 3pm, EMO acting director Gregorio A. Deleon Guerrero reported to DPS about the break-in that occurred at their storage room, which used to be occupied by the Marianas Public Lands Authority.

Police said a crew of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. noticed the burglary while they were checking the water pump in the building. They apparently saw some boxes scattered outside the building. One box was empty while the other was still filled with relief supplies, the report said.

Police believe that the suspect or suspects gained entry by destroying the locks and forcing the door open.

Manalili appealed to anyone who noticed anything unusual in the area on Friday or days before that to call the CIB.

Manalili disclosed that the building had also been burglarized two weeks ago.

EMO acting director Deleon Guerrero, in a telephone interview with the Saipan Tribune yesterday, expressed sadness over the incident.

Deleon Guerrero said the person or persons who broke into the room have no consideration at all since the supplies are not for EMO, but for the public who need them during typhoons or disasters.

He said FEMA donated the relief supplies when a supertyphoon battered the CNMI sometime in 1998 or during the administration of then Gov. Pedro Tenorio.

Deleon Guerrero said it was also during his term as EMO director when FEMA acted on the government’s request for assistance by turning over 130 boxes of such disaster supplies.

The director explained that many boxes have already been used by families affected by typhoons. He said the eight-man tent could serve as a temporary shelter for an entire family who do not like to leave their property during typhoons.

Deleon Guerrero said their storage room used to be occupied by the old Civil Defense Office, and later the MPLA.

He admitted that two weeks ago, the building was also burglarized, but inventory indicated no items were missing.

After the first incident, EMO secured the building by installing two padlocks. Unfortunately, the suspect or suspects broke the two padlocks this time, he said.

Deleon Guerrero said they are moving the items stored in that building to another place because the area is no longer safe.

The director urged people who might have information of the incident or are aware of anyone selling tents and lanterns to contact the police.