US troops lose belongings to thieves during Balikatan

From the Philippine Star (Apr 23): US troops lose belongings to thieves during Balikatan

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Palayan City – Four US soldiers participating in the ongoing 31st joint Balikatan war exercises inside this military reservation lost their personal belongings to thieves, police reported yesterday.

The four soldiers were identified as Sgts. Scotty Wilson and Dwayne Massey and Lts. Patrick Tierney and Thomas Dunne.

Palayan police chief Supt. Leandro Novilla said the military police company (MPC) inside the 7th Infantry Division headquarters has confirmed that the robbery incident transpired at around 1 a.m. on April 9 at the Exercise Relation Construction (ERC) building of the Southern Command (SoCom).

According to the MPC report, unidentified suspects gained entry by digging a hole beneath a perimeter fence. They carted away army boots and a wallet containing $2,000 and an undetermined amount of pesos, among other items.

Novilla said the police report came in late because the military “conducted their own investigation and did not inform us.”

“It’s mysterious how the burglars could just go inside with ease. You can’t just break in since it’s a military camp,” he said.

Supt. Ronald Joseph Ocaya, deputy provincial director for administration, said intelligence operatives are scouring nearby barangays to identify possible witnesses who could provide information on the incident.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/04/23/15/us-troops-lose-belongings-thieves-during-balikatan