AN OFFICIAL has urged the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) to hold a meeting with the junk shop owners to address the rampant stealing of wires of various telecommunications companies (telcos) in the city.
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said Monday, June 27, 2022, that they initially identified about 28 junk shops operating in the city’s various barangays.
Familiaran said the police should initiate a conference with the junk shop owners to emphasize to them the provisions of the Anti-Fencing Law.
“If the junk shop owners will not buy the telco wires, these individuals will also stop stealing the wires,” he added.
The vice mayor said the junk shop owners should face charges once they will be found buying stolen wires.
Last week, a video footage of two unidentified men stealing telco wires in one of the barangays in Bacolod City was making rounds on social media.
Familiaran said the barangays should also activate their force multipliers to conduct roving patrols within their barangays.
Citing BCPO reports, Familiaran said most of the theft incidents were committed during wee hours.
“It’s a big help that our force multipliers will augment our police to preempt possible operations of the lawless elements,” he added.
The official also urged the public to report any suspicious acts of any individual to the nearest police stations or to their respective barangays.
In May, Bacolod City also formed the “Bantay Kable Task Force” to address the rampant stealing wires of various telcos.
This, after some telcos sought the assistance of the city government after they received several complaints that their wires, especially Globe Telecom and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) lines, were stolen by unidentified individuals that started after the onslaught of Typhoon Odette earlier this year.
Aside from Globe and PLDT, Sky Cable and Converge also complained that they were also victims of collateral damage when their fiber optic wires were cut by thieves.