NTC, NCRPO seize more cell phones

Government agents confiscated yesterday at least 30 undocumented cell phones during a raid on 35 stalls inside a mall in Pasig City.

Joint elements of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) swooped down on cell phone stalls at the second floor of the mall located on Ortigas Extension in Pasig City at about 10 a.m.

The raiders left with the seized units after a three-hour inspection, the sixth raid staged in Metro Manila since June 15.

NTC director for the National Capital Region (NCR) Delilah Deles said the series of raids on stalls suspected to be involved in buying and selling of stolen phones has resulted in a drop in snatching cases in Metro Manila.

"Actually, bumaba ang figure ng cell phone snatching," said Deles, adding their operation was a success because a big number of business owners are now applying for permits at her office.

Deles called on the public to buy units only at stalls with NTC permits to ensure the phones are neither stolen nor smuggled products.

NTC deputy commissioner Jaime Fortes and Senior Superintendent Raul Medina, of the NCRPO’s Regional Investigation and Detective Management (RIDM), led the 57-man team that raided the mall yesterday.

Medina assigned a policeman each to the 35 stalls to prevent owners from spiriting out evidence, while personnel from the NTC conducted an inventory of displayed products.

Fortes said the stall owners cooperated fully with NCRPO and NTC personnel.

He said the NTC plans to expand its operation against the buying and selling of stolen phones to the provinces.

The joint NCRPO-NTC team has raided cell phone stalls in Muntinlupa City, Taguig City, Marikina City and Manila.

Fortes said of the more than 200 undocumented cell phones confiscated in the raids, eight were returned to their owners after they presented proper documents to the NTC. — Non Alquitran