Eight nabbed for cable wire theft

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Police arrested eight persons for allegedly stealing Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) cable wires early morning of Dec 9, 2021 in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.

Police identified the suspects as Joel Fernandez, 27, of Barangay Ayacan Constancia, San Lorenzo, Guimaras; Edgar Bañas, 21, of Barangay California, Barotac Viejo; and brothers Aljohn Azucena, 25, Loreto Azucena, 28, both of Barangay Roxas, Ajuy, Iloilo.

Also arrested were Jerlu Caseño, 20, and Alvin Caseño, 27, both Barangay Binulosan, Calinog, Iloilo; Elias Lanzarote Jr., 42, of Barangay Guintas, Sigma, Capiz; and Ronelo Gabales, 22, of Barangay Old Poblacion, Buenavista, Guimaras.

Reports from the Barotac Viejo Municipal Police Station indicated that two suspects, Moises Bengan of Barangay Baja-Baja, Escalante City, Negros, Occidental and Aris Alimo-on of Barangay Salngan, Leon, Iloilo, managed to flee and remain at large.

Master Sergeant Rodolfo Prudente, Jr., Barotac PNP investigator on case, said that all suspects are working for Fibrex, a company that subcontracts for PLDT.

The local police, together with two PLDT roving security guards, caught the suspects around 4 a.m. Thursday at Barangay Natividad, Barotac Viejo. They were allegedly cutting and taking down PLDT wires and loaded it to their service vehicle, a Suzuki utility van (license plate FAF 3066).

The suspects used masking tape to conceal the company’s name on their vehicle. They also used a ladder to cut down the wire that they installed.

“After they have installed it, they would steal the cable wire,” Prudente said.

Prudente said around 580 meters of cable wire worth P441,530 were taken from the suspects’ possession.

Prudente said the suspects would be charged for violation of Republic Act No. 7832, otherwise known as the Anti-Pilferage of Electricity and Theft of Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Act of 1994.

Cable wire theft has been known to attract thieves because it consists of copper wire.

Some junk shops bought copper wire at P350 per kilo.

In recent years, several telephone and cable companies in the country reported billions in losses due to cable wire theft.