Thursday, May 03, 2007 3 men caught stealing lamppost wires
LAMPPOSTS bought for the Asean summit caught not only the attention of graft investigators but thieves as well.
Even before questions on the purchase of the lampposts can be resolved, some of them may no longer work after five men were caught cutting one of the lamps along the road to Marco Polo Hotel in Lahug, Cebu City last Monday night.
Policemen from the Mabolo Police Station were on routine patrol when they saw five men taking the insulation wires of the post at 6 p.m.
However, only 21-year-old Muncho Rosales, 19-year-old Bram Philip Villarba, and 23-year-old Frederick Capuyan were caught.
They are detained at the Mabolo Police Station.
Junny Chavez and Alfie Saquilabon were able to flee. All five of them are from Middle Nivel Hills, Lahug.
The three admitted that they cut the insulation wires of the lamppost, believing they can earn from it.
“Amu man unta ‘to ipatimbang ig kahuman (We would have sold it),” said Rosales.
Last April 13, the Visayan Electric Co. (Veco) cut off power to some 660 units of “apex-type” lampposts in Cebu City and Mandaue City.
Acting Visayas Deputy Ombudsman Virginia Santia-go earlier expressed concern that “if these lampposts aren’t lit, thieves will cut them down one by one to be used for scrap iron.”
Meanwhile, the Cebu City Government cannot acquire ownership of the streetlamps without a tripartite agreement with DPWH and the contractor.
Documents
City Administrator Francisco Fernandez said the City is ready to take over the lampposts and shoulder the electricity bills that will be incurred once the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) turns over the units to them.
In a phone interview yesterday, he said he will ask DPWH to prepare the documents so he can ask Veco to restore power supply to the lamps to avoid theft or tampering of the street lamps.
DPWH and city officials and the contractor already agreed on the turnover during a meeting at the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas last month but the parties have yet to enter into a tripartite agreement.
“DPWH has not given us feedback yet on the documents needed. Ato ning ipadali ang turnover para mapasiga na nato ang lamps because any pilferage or vandalism can be avoided if the lamps are lighted,” Fernandez told Sun.Star Cebu.
City Councilor Augustus Pe Jr. said he instructed the Mobile Patrol Group to patrol along Salinas Drive and S. Osmeña Blvd. every night, where the lampposts stand.
Pe said he has not received reports of any pilferage, but he will ask to increase police visibility in the areas where the lampposts are to prevent further damage to the properties. (NCR/LCR)
