Stolen money, untraced clothes, and missing gadgets in the hallway are among the few hurdles occupants face in most dormitories inside the Visayas State University (VSU), as proven by the recent incidents reported in the vicinity.
These cases have yet to be solved with the 100th Centennial Anniversary celebration expected to double the population of people visiting the university, causing big concerns about safety and security in both Lower and Upper Campus dormitories. Recently, a theft incident of stolen phones in the Calachuchi Girl’s Dormitory at the Lower Campus further troubled its occupants, as reported last March 16—with the culprit yet to be disclosed.
In an interview with AMARANTH, University Inter–Dormitory Student Body (UISB) President Dara Danielle Estrada expounded on the details of the theft incident and clarified that this had already reached the Calachuchi Dorm Management and the higher authorities.
“The news reached to me last night [Saturday], the [Calachuchi] dorm President told me [about the incident]. This happened on the daylight at around 1:35 P.M. inside the dorm. As per Calachuchi President, there are only two phones stolen. They already reported this incident to the police. The police advised them na sigehan lang tawag kay basin daw taga dorm ra sad ang nagkuha,” she stated.
Estrada called out to the authorities to further add and strengthen the number of security personnel, especially in the Lower Campus premises to prevent more cases concerning the dormitory occupants.
“[More number of] guards should roam around the campus in the night and even in broad daylight; specially at the Lower Campus. Most of the theft incident man gud kay sa Lower nahitabo then we know na man na Lower Campus is residential. That's why security sa Lower Campus should be strengthened,” Estrada added.
She also stressed the importance of collective actions of all occupants residing in the university by being responsible and vigilant with their possessions to minimize incidents to happen in the future.
Furthermore, the VSU Security Office released a statement last March 8, baring the ongoing investigation on the unresolved ‘harassment incident’ of the Sampaguita dorm occupant at the Upper Oval Grounds. SG Estoy, the assigned Security Guard roaming in the vicinity at that time, February 26, explained that the two perpetrators have yet to be identified and reprimanded—citing that the CCTV footage has yet to be disclosed from them.
“Nag follow–up na mi sa blotter report ug nag request na mi sa CCTV [footage], kay naghuwat lang mi under nila sir… [so far] this is an ongoing investigation,” Estoy stated.
The major incident adds to the list of recurring cases targetting the occupants in the campus and puts their safety at risk.