In Western Visayas alone, its losses were placed at P16 million for the first half of the year, with 61 cases of cable theft mostly in Bago City.
The amount was more than P10 million than last year’s losses of P5.1 million with only seven cases of cable theft recorded.
Cable theft is rampant in Negros Occidental, Cebu, Cavite and Mandaluyong City.
Choy Cantonjos, Innove’s customer operation support head, said the total losses will be much higher if service disruptions to subscribers are also considered.
To fight cable theft, Innove is launching a community-based security project that will mobilize barangay officials, community volunteers and law enforcement agencies.
Innove is also going after junkshop owners who buy stolen cables for violation of the Anti-Fencing Law. Cable thieves sell the copper at P140 to P160 per kilo.
Cantonjos said rewards will also given to anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest of cable thieves.
The "Bantay Kable" campaign is spearheaded by the Customers Operations Support Division of Innove’s Residential and Business Group in coordination with the company’s Security Division and Legal and External Affairs for the Visayas and Mindanao.
In Negros Occidental, suspected cable thieves have been apprehended in the cities of Victorias and Bago. Three suspects arrested in Victorias pleaded guilty and are now serving six-year jail terms.
Five suspects arrested in Bago City were minors and have been turned to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Cantonjos said.