Board members join fight vs. phone cable thefts

By Eva C. Visperas

Ever wonder why you had a hard time dialing some offices around the Capitol area in Lingayen the past month?

Blame it on cable thieves.

These are not simple theft cases. These give those affected lots of headaches and it’s reassuring to know what our provincial officials are doing to help the situation.

Last Friday afternoon, our provincial board members joined the fight of the police and telecommunication companies against theft of telephone cables that has become rampant across the province by crafting an ordinance to give more teeth to the campaign.

They agreed during their regular session to join the police operatives and telecommunication operators Digital Telecommunications (Digitel) and Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) in their campaign to stop and prevent the recurrence of cable thefts that has reached a total of 69 incidents this year.

Fifth district Board Member Dionisio Villar Jr. sponsored a question hour during their session after phone access to his office as well as other offices in the Capitol compound was cut due to cable theft.

Villar said for a month, public service that had been made easier through communication access was suddenly paralyzed.

He also assailed Digitel management for its slow response in replacing the stolen cables. The Digitel boss in Pangasinan quickly apologized for the delayed action and promised to be prompt the next time around. He assured restoration of services within four days. Let’s hope as he himself swore.

Senior Supt. Alan Purisima, provincial director told board members that there were 51 theft incidents involving Digitel and another 18 involving PLDT this year. These happened in the cities of San Carlos, Dagupan, Alaminos and Urdaneta and in the towns of Bayambang, Lingayen, Mangatarem, Malasiqui, Tayug, Manaoag, Calasiao, Mangaldan, Sison, Bani, Binalonan, Villasis, Sta. Barbara, Rosales and Binmaley

Last year, there were 32 theft incidents of this kind.

He added that he has formed Task Force Spaghetti to track down suspects who sell the stolen cables to junkshops. Meanwhile the telecommunication operators refused to divulge losses incurred but sources estimate it to run into millions of pesos.

Recently, the police arrested one thief in the act of cutting cables and a junkshop owner who bought stolen cables. Police said another suspected thief was electrocuted while cutting cable wires.

Purisima said he continuously conducts dialogues with representatives of the two telephone companies to come up with measures to protect their lines. He has also ordered his police chiefs to intensify their monitoring and patrols to stop or prevent the crime.

The board supported the suggestion of Sixth district Board Member Robert Raymund Estrella that the board crafts a provincial ordinance that would give more teeth to law enforcers to fight those behind this, including junkshop owners who buy the stolen items.

Someone in the audience even suggested placing live wires so that thieves will be electrocuted.

Purisima said this new ordinance will be a big boost to their campaign because to date, they still have to secure search warrant before they could enter junkshops to see if there are stolen cables.

Board Member Danilo Uy who represents the Pangasinan Councilors’ League suggested that the police tap the services of barangay tanods for the campaign.

By the way, I wonder why PLDT officials were not present when they, too, are affected by this problem.

Having no landline is really a big problem. A lady friend told me once she prefers not having a husband in return for a phone with a dial tone.

I heard other ladies said in chorus,” Correct!”

(You can also read this writer’s other stories at http://businessblog.prepys.com.)

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