A cultural healing center in Yona is picking up the pieces as it was not only burglarized, the culprits also torched several areas in the establishment.
Pictures of the havoc caused at the Guma Yo’Åmte show items rummaged through and thrown on the floor as well as furniture charred from fire.
President of Håya Foundation, Zita Pangelinan, said she discovered the break-in on Sunday, filling her with shock and disappointment.
Pangelinan said the perpetrators took advantage of the health crisis and the healing center’s closure.
“It was very shocking. I’m crying because we built it out of love and to serve our people and so it was quite difficult to see how they left it,” she said.
Pangelinan said the culprits stole a number of items including a Hope Chest and TV, some of which were given as gifts to the cultural healers.
Guma Yo’Åmte serves over 1500 clients and just celebrated its one year anniversary on March 17. But now, the center’s operations are at a halt not because of the pandemic but because of the repairs needed.
They are hoping to get funding to hire a contractor to help with the repairs but shares that she does not know how long their doors will stay closed.
If you have any information about this incident, contact GPD Crimestoppers at 477-4357.
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