The city police identified the suspects as Noli Cusi, 21, of Purok 6, Pasong Makipot, Barangay Putatan; Roberto Marcelino, 30, of Twin Pioneer Extension, Don Carlos Revilla, Pasay City; and Cherry Nantes, 29, of Apelo Cruz, Malibay, Pasay City.
Three other suspects were caught an hour after the first group. They were identified as Efren Almonte, 23; Jeffrey Lopez, 25; and Juan Pormento, 29, all of Purok 2, Barangay Bayanan.
Carmencita Nava, 54, a security and safety inspector of PLDT, together with elements of the Muntinlupa police, filed theft charges against the six suspects.
Newly-installed city police chief Superintendent Jose Mario Espino said Cusi, Marcelino and Nantes were caught stealing phone lines along the main road in Barangay Putatan near La Charina Subdivision. The stolen cables, measuring 30 meters, are worth P30,000.
Prior to the apprehension, police received information that thieves were in the process of stealing wires in the area.
Members of the barangay police in Barangay Cupang arrested Almonte’s group, which were also caught detaching PLDT cables.
Police seized some 35 meters of telephone line worth P45,000 from the suspects. The police filed theft charges against Almonte and his two cohorts.
Espino said the suspects sell the stolen cables to junk shops.
He added that together with concerned city officials, they are set to consult with all the junk shop owners in the city and come up with possible measures they can adopt to put a stop to cable and wire theft. – Rhodina Villanueva