PHP2.2 million worth of stolen cables recovered

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By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – Eleven individuals were arrested Monday in Barangay Concepcion, Talisay City, Negros Occidental, after authorities recovered PHP2.2 million worth of stolen underground internet and cable wires.

Police Capt. Reynaldo Bauden Jr., head of the Bacolod Maritime Police Station, said the operation was launched following a report from a concerned resident who noticed smoke rising from a nearby area on Sunday—raising health and environmental concerns.

Responding officers found the suspects in a vacant lot near a sugarcane field, burning wires.

“We responded due to environmental concerns, but we accidentally discovered the underground cable wires,” Bauden said in a phone interview.

He said the wires were believed to have been stolen from Barangay Villamonte and other areas across the city and province.

Bauden added that the suspects, mostly residents of Talisay City, were allegedly hired by an unidentified financier and are believed to be part of an organized group.

Their task was to burn the wires before selling them, he said.

A telecommunications firm has filed theft charges against the suspects.

The Maritime Police will also file charges for violating the Philippine Clean Air Act (Republic Act 8749).

The case remains under investigation.