Globe steps up campaign vs cable theft

MANILA, Philippines - Ayala-led Globe Telecom Inc. has stepped up its crackdown against cable theft with the filing of 11 separate criminal cases involving 25 individual suspects in the Visayas region in January alone.

Ronald Uychutin, director for security and anti-fraud and investigation of Globe, said the high incidence of cable theft arrest and the subsequent filing of criminal charges against the suspects indicate the company’s intensified efforts in its drive against cable theft.

“Globe will continue to step up its campaign against cable theft as such illegal activity usually causes disruption of communication services, adversely affecting operations of some of our business clients, and causing inconvenience to our subscribers,” Uychutin said.

He pointed out that Globe is confident the cases filed against the suspects would be resolved in favor of the telecommunications company, citing recent court decision involving two separate cases of theft involving Globe cables in Bais City, Negros Oriental.

The cases were resolved in favor of Globe, resulting in the conviction of five persons, who were all sentenced to a penalty of six years of imprisonment.

“A similar resolution of the criminal cases would hopefully deter cable thefts in the future,” he added.