Junk shop owners told: Don’t buy stolen tower parts

Saturday, February 18, 2012

THE owners of junk shops in Zamboanga City have been warned to stop or refrain from buying stolen parts of power transmission line towers of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

Zamboanga City Police Director Edwin De Ocampo issued the warning after the NGCP has sought police assistance to stop tower parts pilferage in this city.

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De Ocampo warned that junk shop owners who buy stolen parts of power transmission line towers could be held liable under Presidential Decree No. 1612 otherwise known as the Anti-Fencing Law of 1979.

“Fencing” is the act of any person who, with intent to gain for himself or for another, shall buy, receive, possess, keep, acquire, conceal, sell or dispose of, or shall buy and sell, or in any other manner deal in any article, item, object or anything of value which he knows, or should be known to him, to have been derived from the proceeds of the crime of robbery or theft.

De Ocampo said those directly involved in the pilferage are liable under Republic Act 7832 otherwise known as the Anti-Electricity and Electric Transmission Line/Materials Pilferage Act of 1994.

He said he, in coordination with the NGCP, will schedule a dialogue with junk shop owners to abreast them how the tower parts look like and to advised them to stop buying such materials sold to them as junk items.

He also said pilferage will stop if no one among the junk shop owners would buy since it will discourage those involve from stealing tower parts.

De Ocampo said he will also tap the assistance of the barangay officials to help them secure the towers of power transmission lines in their respective villages.

The NGCP has sought the assistance of police as pilferage continues on its 138-kilovolt power transmission line towers.

The NGCP said in its letter addressed to De Ocampo that the towers affected may collapse and eventually disrupt the power transmission in Zamboanga City if the pilferage continues.

If this happens, the NGCP said the whole city may experience days or weeks of brownout before power can be restored since they have to undertake repair or reconstruction works.

The NGCP said the power transmission line tower of the NGCP in the village of Malagutay almost collapsed last week due to pilferage.

This city's west coast villages have experienced a nine-hour brownout since the NGCP had to shut down the power to pave way for the maintenance works.