Ban on trading phones sans papers may not prevent phone theft

The proposed ordinance prohibiting any person from selling or buying cellular phones without proof of ownership or receipt of purchase might not effectively stop thefts of these cellular phones in general.

This was the common view of several councilors over the proposal of councilor Edgardo Labella who said he wanted to stop the rampant stealing of cellphones in the city.

Records of the National Telecommunications Commission showed that about 50 cellphones are reported stolen in different parts of Central Visayas every month.

Councilor Jose Daluz III, vice chairman of the laws committee that reviewed the proposal, described Labella's intention as good but the measure is "difficult to implement and monitor."

Daluz also asked Labella if it is possible to include also wristwatches and jewelry in the prohibition.

Labella answered that some people obtained watches and jewelry not only through purchase with a receipt, but as a gift, or as a heirloom handed down from generation to generation.

Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, another committee member, commented that the measure might violate a person's right to sell his or her cellphone when any proof of ownership of the item has been lost.

Other city officials also found the proposal ineffective to check thievery of cellphones. They explained that thieves can still sell their loot in places outside Cebu City where there is no law against selling second-hand phones without proof of ownership. - Rene U. Borromeo