Four cousins nabbed for stealing telco cable wires

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Theft charges are being readied against four cousins who were allegedly caught in the act stealing cable wires of a telecommunications firm along Mansilingan-Murcia road in Barangay Mansilingan here last Sunday.

Police arrested Joelo Valdez, 35, of Barangay Sum-ag here, an employee of a construction firm that specializes in telecommunications facilities; and his cousins – Dave Planeda, 28, of Bago City, Negros Occidental, John Walfred Valdez, 20, and Ervin Jake Valdez, 19, both residents of Barangay Sum-ag.

Police Captain Elmer Bonilla, head of Police Station 7, said that a security guard sought the assistance of policemen when they detected that one of their main cable wires at the said area were being cut.

“May ara na sila abi daw system or gadget na ma detect nila kung may mag attempt tandog sang wires nila,” he added.

When they responded, police caught the four persons allegedly stealing 130 meters of cable wire which was loaded to the vehicle of the telecommunications construction firm.

Two ladders and various equipment and tools were also recovered from the compartment of Joelo’s driven service vehicle, according to the police.

Bonilla said the suspects probably sell the stolen cable wires to scrap collectors here.

All four suspects are detained at the police station.

Meanwhile, Bonilla said that Joelo’s firm clarified that they have no involvement in their employee’s wrongdoing.