Syndicate in illegal water connection busted

Manila police swooped down the other day on a Muslim area in Quiapo following reports of illegal water connections which have reportedly defrauded Maynilad Water Services of millions of pesos in revenues.

The raid resulted in the arrest of two alleged operators of the illegal water connections, and the seizure of a motor pump and more than 500 meters of hose which supply water to almost a hundred houses in Barangay 647, District 3 in Quiapo. The entire barangay has no water meters, except for the barangay chairman, Senior Inspector Baltazar Beran, chief of the anti-fraud section of the Manila Police District, said.

According to Haisah Pandi, 44, and Michael Ibrahim, 45, they charge P1,500 a month for every household for their eight-hour water supply. An additional P30 for every 30 minutes is being charged in excess of eight hours, they added. The illegal activity has been ongoing for almost two years now, the residents said.

Maynilad representative Aurora Yu sought police assistance after the water utility’s personnel failed to dismantle the water connections for fear of the residents’ wrath. Yu said millions of pesos is being lost to Maynilad due to the illegal water connections.

At the police headquarters, the two arrested suspects said they only act as maintainers of the illegal water connections. An informant identified a certain Mohammad Ali Buleg as the brains behind the illegal operation.

In turn, Maynilad decided not to pursue any crimnal charges against the two suspects, but warned them not to engage in the criminal activity again.

Moreover, the entire barangay suffered water cut-off beginning yesterday. The residents were advised to apply for water meter to avail of Maynilad’s water services.

Beran said he directed his men to continue monitoring and surveillance of the area to make sure that the residents will not resort again to illegal water connections.