Three Linemen Arrested for Stealing Cables

Three linemen face multiple charges after being caught red-handed selling stolen electrical cables belonging to MORE Power at a junk shop in Iloilo.

The suspects, identified as Leo Dela Cruz, Mark Xyrone Cabansay, and Joseph Mobe, are employees of FVE Electrical Services and Supply Corporation, a contractor of MORE Power.

According to the suspects, they loaded three rolls of electrical cables from their barracks in Buntatala, Jaro, into their service truck early Saturday morning, January 25.

They then transported the cables to a junk shop in Cagamutan Norte, Leganes, intending to sell them.

MORE Power security guards apprehended the suspects and turned them over to the Leganes Police for booking. They were later transferred to the Jaro Police Station for further investigation.

The stolen cables are valued at approximately PHP 50,000.

MORE Power, the sole power distributor in Iloilo City, has filed a complaint for qualified theft against the suspects, who are currently detained while awaiting an inquest case.

Under the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act 10951, penalties for qualified theft range from prisión correccional (six months and one day to six years) to prisión mayor (six years and one day to 12 years), depending on the value of the stolen property and any aggravating circumstances.

Additional complaints will be filed against the suspects for violating the Anti-Fencing Law and potentially breaching the Anti-Pilferage Law.

MORE Power has reiterated its warning to contractors and linemen that stealing materials entrusted to them for rehabilitating electrical facilities will not be tolerated.

“Such actions undermine public trust and the integrity of the services we aim to deliver to our customers,” MORE Power said in a statement.

The company vowed to pursue legal action against anyone found guilty of such offenses to ensure accountability and safeguard its operations.