Brgys tapped to address SRP wire pilferage

CEBU, Philippines – The chairman of the Talisay City Council Committee on Peace, Order and Public Services has filed a resolution requesting barangay captains with jurisdictional responsibilities along the South Road Properties to address alleged rampant pilferage of the city-owned electrical wires and sodium lamps.

City Councilor Danilo Caballero, in a resolution filed last week, said cases of pilferage are high in areas near the SRP, especially in Barangays San Roque, Tanke, Cansojong, Poblacion, Dumlog, San Isidro, Lawaan II and Lawaan I.

The resolution will be discusses in today's session. It is co-authored by Councilor Edward Alesna.

Last September 30, the Peace and Order Council meeting pointed out that the rampant pilferage of electric lights at the SRP is already alarming considering the safety of the motorists and the traversing public during nighttime.

"The Talisay City Police, whose numerical figure is insufficient to secure the general public, recommends to request the barangay chairmen in the concerned areas to support their endeavor in addressing this dilemma by directing their respective tanods to conduct regular roving/close monitoring and proactively reporting to Talisay PNP for assistance," Caballero said.

Under Section 3 (a) of Republic Act 7832 or the Anti-Electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act of 1994, it is declared unlawful for any person, whether natural or juridical, public or private, to cut, saw, slice, separate, slit, severe, smelt, or remove any power transmission line/material or meter from any tower, pole, any other installation or place of installation or any other place or site where it may be rightfully or lawfully stored, deposited, kept, stocked, inventoried, situated or located, without the consent of the owner.

Such is unlawful whether or not the act is done for profit or gain;

The law also disallows the act to take, carry away or remove or transfer, with or without the use of a motor vehicle or other means of conveyance, any electric power transmission line/material or meter from a tower, pole, any other installation or place of installation, or any place or site where it may be rightfully or lawfully stored, deposited, kept, stocked, inventoried, situated or located, without the consent of the owner, whether or not the act is done for profit or gain; and store, possess or otherwise keep in his premises, custody or control, any electric power transmission line/material or meter without the consent of the owner, whether or not the act is done for profit or gain.

Section 7 (b) of the same Act states that the penalty for the violation of Section 3 provisions shall be reclusion temporal or a fine ranging from P50,000 to P100,000 or both, at the discretion of the court.

Caballero is asking the barangay captains of the eight barangays to direct their respective tanods to closely monitor street lights against pilferage and proactively submit reports to the Talisay City Police for any suspected incidents.