The continuing story of Michael Sabalsa of Tanauan, Leyte, is an ongoing reminder that life is full of paradoxes. Some weeks ago, we shared that this Peter Project recipient’s boat was stolen from him. Within the same morning of our post, several kindhearted individuals offered to pay for a replacement boat.
Happily, on October 2, we received a report that Michael’s boat was found by the police.
Unfortunately, we also found out that it was stolen by a fellow Peter Project beneficiary’s son, who tried to sell both Michael’s boat and his own. We returned Michael’s boat to him, and confiscated the other boat from the beneficiary who turned thief. Meanwhile, the police is helping Michael file his case.
The boat was taken by the son of beneficiary Nenita P. She lost her husband, a fisherman, along with the family’s source of livelihood to Typhoon Yolanda. Nenita can’t do much work as she has suffered from stroke, but has an able son who could take on his deceased father’s trade. This qualified them for a Peter Project boat.
Unfortunately, the son thought that fishing other peoples’ boats looked like a better trade. He decided to steal Michael’s boat and attempted to steal two others. Even worse, he tried to sell not only the boat he stole, but his family’s boat as well.
Although it was difficult for us to leave Nenita P. without access to livelihood once more, we had to do the fair thing and confiscate her boat.
We have endorsed the family and their case to the Department of Social Welfare and Services as we do not have the competence for psychological and rehabilitation assistance.
This story, along with others like this, highlights the importance of continued monitoring of beneficiaries to ensure that they do not exploit the aid that donors have extended to them in good faith.
