KIDAPAWAN CITY — A public school teacher has expressed outrage after five sacks of copra—the primary source of livelihood for her family—were stolen from a drying facility in Barangay Kalaisan, intensifying concerns over recurring theft incidents in the area.
In a strongly worded Facebook post, Marian Canillo-Yunting, a resident of Barangay Magkaalam in the neighboring municipality of Magpet, lamented the loss and condemned the perpetrators for taking what she described as the product of hard labor.
“Malipay mo kinawat inyoha ipakaon sa inyoha pamilya?” she wrote, questioning the conscience of those responsible for the theft.
According to Yunting, the copra had been laid out to dry at a copra dryer in Barangay Kalaisan when it was taken by still unidentified suspects. The stolen produce, estimated at five sacks, represents significant income for the family, which relies on coconut farming as a source of livelihood.
The victim emphasized that this was not an isolated case. She revealed that another family, identified as the Malimit family, had previously fallen victim to a similar theft at the same location. The repeated incidents have fueled fears among residents, who now worry about the security of their agricultural produce.
Yunting expressed deep frustration, noting that the stolen copra was the result of the painstaking efforts of her siblings, only to be taken away by opportunistic thieves. She also underscored her belief that such acts would not go unpunished, invoking the idea of “karma” or “gaba” for those who commit wrongdoing.
The total monetary value of the stolen copra is still being assessed.
In light of the incident, the victim has called on local authorities to strengthen security measures in the area, particularly around agricultural facilities such as copra dryers, to prevent further thefts and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
Barangay officials are expected to intensify monitoring and surveillance efforts in response to the incident.
Authorities, meanwhile, are urging the public to remain vigilant and to promptly report any suspicious activities in their communities as investigations continue.