POLICE seized P2.2-million worth of stolen underground cable wires in Barangay Concepcion, Talisay City, Negros Occidental on Monday, July 14. (Bacolod Maritime Police Station)
BACOLOD CITY – Authorities seized P2.2-million worth of stolen underground internet and cable wires and arrested 11 persons in Barangay Concepcion, Talisay City, Negros Occidental on Monday, July 14.
Police Capt. Reynaldo Bauden Jr., head of the Bacolod Maritime Police Station, said they acted on a report from a concerned citizen, who expressed concern over the burning of ground copper wires in the area.
Bauden said that the concerned citizen noticed smoke in the area on Sunday, July 13, which could be a health hazard in the community.
Authorities responded and caught 11 persons in a vacant lot near a sugarcane field burning some wires on Monday afternoon. “We have accidentally discovered it,” Bauden said.
These wires were stolen from Barangay Villamonte here and other parts in this city and province.
Bauden said that most of the arrested individuals were residents of Talisay City, Negros Occidental. Bauden said that the group is considered organized as someone is financing their operations. He added that the suspects were tasked to burn the wires before selling it.
He said that the telecommunications firm filed theft charges against the suspects on Tuesday, July 15, while another case for violation of Republic Act 8749 or the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 will also be lodged against them by the Maritime police.