Carbon power outage ushers discovery of wire-tap scheme

CEBU, Philippines - An illegitimate member of a Carbon Market association is now being tracked down by authorities after illegally distributing power to over 40 vendors of Carbon Market Unit III by tapping Cebu City’s power line connections.

A resident of Barangay Ermita, so far identified as Eric, has been allegedly collecting payment ranging from P200 to P400 a month for power consumption of more than 40 recipients of Carbon Market Unit III including the barangay’s outpost.

The discovery, City Market Administrator Raquel Arce said, erupted after an electric wire sparked and burned causing power outage at Unit III over the weekend.

“Gipasubay nako ang cause sa sunog ug nakita sa akong personnel nga ang hinungdan kay illegal cutting of wire kay gi-tap para i-supply sa mga vendors,” Arce said.

In an emergency meeting with the vendors, Arce said a certain Eric has been tagged as mastermind of the illegal wire tapping.

According to Arce, the vendors were made to believe that Eric was legitimate after the latter presented himself as member of the Landing Area Vendors Organization, accredited group of Cebu City United Vendors Association that supplies power to ambulant vendors.

The market administrator said this scheme has already been reported several times to the Visayan Electric Company, however, no action has been done so far to address the issue.

“Several time na mi mipadangat sa among complaint didto sa Veco pero niingon man sila nga kinahanglan caught in the act. (Pero) nganong maghuwat pa man nga duna ma’y mga vendors nga (willing) mo-testify?” Arce said.

Arce said she is set to meet with the city legal officer to discuss appropriate legal intervention.  (FREEMAN)