Businessman nabbed for buying stolen telecom equipment

Police have arrested a businessman who yielded at least P2 million worth of allegedly stolen telephone equipment during a raid in Quezon City.

Metro police chief Director Geary Barias ordered the filing of violation of Presidential Decree 1912 also known as the Anti-Fencing law of 1979 against the suspect, Allan Tayo, 44.

Barias said elements of the Counter Intelligence and Security Unit (CISU) of the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) raided over the weekend Tayo’s house at  9-E and 9-F Mirasol street in Cubao, Quezon City amid complaints by Bayantel that the suspect is involved in buying of stolen telephone equipment owned by the company.

The raiders were armed with a search warrant issued by Judge Amor Reyes of the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 21.

The raid yielded some two thousand meters of assorted aerial telephone wires, lashing machine, assorted sizes of closures, drop wires, lashing wires, bulk cutter and ladders owned by Bayantel Telecommunication worth P2 million. Barias said they acted on the complaint waged by Bayantel against Tayo who has been involved in the buy and sell of stolen telecommunication materials owned by the said company.

The Metro police chief vowed to intensify the drive against cable theft that has served as “a perennial problem of telephone companies.”

“Stolen cable commands a high price in the junk metal market reportedly due to the construction boom in mainland China. This has triggered a high demand for copper and other metal junks. This high demand resulted in junkshop operators buying cables regardless if they are stolen or not,” said Barias, adding, “If there are no buyers of stolen cables, there will be no sellers of stolen cables.”