Police bust group selling signal jammers

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday announced that the newly-formed Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) has arrested a businessman and three of his employees for selling signal jammers in Caloocan City.

Nabbed were Giovanni Penaloza Dee Tan, owner of Zellnor International Merchandising and Brand Philippine.Com Inc., and his three employees-- Matthew Kagalingan Mercado, Rommel Buergo Ogo and Betsayda Legaspina Bueda.

Operatives of the PNP-ACG with personnel from the National Telecommunications Commission conducted the entrapment operation along 4th Avenue, Grace Park, Caloocan City on Thursday, after receiving information from concerned citizens about certain persons selling signal jammers through the internet.

The operation was conducted after an informant for the PNP-ACG was able to communicate through the given cellular phone number by the seller posted on a website, www.sulit.com.

Police seized a total of 14 signal jammers during the operation.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas earlier called on the public to help the authorities identify individuals or groups who are selling or supplying signal jammers, which is known to be part of smuggled items.

Signal jammers can block cellular and wifi connections within 20 meters. During the last elections, there were speculations that some groups were planning to use signal jammers to disrupt the automated elections.

Cases for the violation of Republic Act No. 1937 (Tariff and Customs Act) and Republic Act 8792 (E-Commerce Law) are being readied against the four suspects.