Wednesday, November 05, 2008 Thieves prey on parts of bridge
UNIDENTIFIED persons have stolen several steel bolts and nuts on the first Mandaue-Mactan bridge, leaving more than 20 holes on the sidewalk for Mandaue-bound traffic.
A source who requested anonymity said he was doing his early morning exercise last Sunday when he saw more than 20 detached iron nuts already spread on the sidewalk.
The source did not see anyone detaching the nuts from the bridge.
Loot lined
The bolt holes, smaller than a peso coin, were lined up in the middle of the sidewalk.
A bolt the size of a finger and two feet long was still attached to the bridge when Sun.Star Cebu went to the area yesterday.
Personnel from the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda), who were at the area to check on the security cameras installed on the bridge, took photos of the remaining bolts and nuts and of the holes on the structure when informed of the looting.
Yesterday’s incident was not the first pilferage of the first bridge.
In February 2005, three men also went under the structure and stole utility cables. They fled in a waiting banca.
Before this, the Department of Public Works and Highways 7 has been receiving reports of thefts of the bridge’s wiring system. (OCP)
