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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Pera na, naging bato pa': 911 call leads cops to white van with P400,000 stolen cables, 3 thieves arrested

'Pera na, naging bato pa': 911 call leads cops to white van with P400,000 stolen cables, 3 thieves arrested

Published Jul 22, 2025 12:59 pm  |  Updated Jul 22, 2025 01:07 pm

At A Glance

  • Recovered from the suspects were 20 pieces of Foam Skin Filled (FSF) underground copper cable wires (approximately 72.5 meters), valued at around ₱400,000.00, hammer, bolt cutter and white closed van used in the operation.
Amid stories, or “urban legend”, about roving white vans being used in kidnapping of children and pretty ladies, this white van in Quezon City was found to be focusing on another target.
And the police quick response foiled what was supposed to be a jackpot day for three cable thieves, including a former barangay councilor, during an operation in Novaliches, early morning of Monday, July 21, before they could sell the P400,000 worth of underground copper cable wires they stole.
Police Brig. Gen. Anthony A. Aberin, director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), said the quick police response was due to a 911 call by a concerned citizen who spotted three people loading cut cable wires into a white van near a subdivision in Barangay Sta. Monica.
Using the experience about escape routes and roads in the area, Aberin said the local police from the Novaliches Police Station (PS 4) validated the information and discovered the suspects traveling southbound along Commonwealth Avenue.
He said a hot pursuit operation was launched in coordination with other police forces through radio calls and eventually resulted in the operatives of the Anonas Police Station to intercept the van and arrest the suspects along Elliptical Road, Quezon City.
Those arrested, according to Aberin, were a 43-year-old driver, a 50-year-old former barangay kagawad, and a 23-year-old helper.
“The operation that stemmed from a timely 911 alert was followed by rapid inter-station coordination and an effective hot pursuit that resulted in the recovery of stolen underground copper cable wires,” said Aberin.
Recovered from the suspects were 20 pieces of Foam Skin Filled (FSF) underground copper cable wires (approximately 72.5 meters), valued at around ₱400,000.00, hammer, bolt cutter and white closed van used in the operation.
Aberin said the positive result of the operation reinforced not only the five-minute police response of PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III but also the latter’s emphasis on the use of radio for inter-unit coordination in police operations.
“The swift apprehension of the suspects was made possible through the immediate response triggered by a 911 call and the seamless coordination among our police units. We were not only able to arrest the perpetrators but also prevent further damage to critical communication infrastructure,” said Aberin.
He said the arrested suspects now face a case of violation of Republic Act No. 10515, or the Anti-Cable Television and Cable Internet Tapping Act of 2013.
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