Davao court sends phone cable thieves to prison
MANILA, Philippines, February 6, 2007 – Two phone cable theft suspects were sentenced by the Regional Trial Court Branch 12, Davao City, to imprisonment from six months to one year and eight months after having been found guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
Romulo Abragozo and Alejandro Dionaldo were convicted of theft, which they committed in April 2000 when they took away P400,000 worth of telephone cables owned by Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. at Km. 24 in Bunawan, Davao City.
Two other accomplices of Abragozo and Dionaldo were also found guilty but were exempted from criminal responsibility because they were only 15 years old and 14 years old at the time of the commission of the crime. They will have to undergo, however, an intervention program under the Juvenile Justice Law and Welfare Act of 2005.
“The prosecution was able to prove, by clear and convincing evidence, the guilt of the accused, Romulo Abragozo and Alejandro Dionaldo, for the crime of theft. The said accused were positively identified by witnesses for the prosecution as the same persons who stole the telephone wires and cables of PLDT,” the Court said in its findings.
Cesar E. Mendoza, PLDT Administration and Materials Management Group (AMMG) - Asset Protection Center Head, said that this is a victory for the community affected by the cable theft in Davao City.
“Theft of cables results to telecommunications service interruptions that inconvenience residents and subscribers in surrounding areas where the cable theft occurred. Through the conviction of these thieves, we help our community eliminate these costly service disruptions,” said Mendoza.
In the last two months alone, PLDT, with the help of the local police and local barangay officials, were able to apprehend fourteen (14) suspects of telephone cable theft, including four minors, in Antipolo City and Cardona and Binangonan in Rizal, within the area of responsibility of GMM-AP2 Division headed by Willie A. Arcinue.
Police authorities have reported the identities of the suspects namely, John De Vera, 20; Jonathan R. Gathan, 40; Rolando C. Baccay, 36; Noel V. Francisco, 34; Angelbert Rivera, 34; Rannie Constantino, 45; and Eraño L. Ramirez, 30; Nester Espolilia, 39; Rommel Ortega, 29; Henderson Ocampo, 26.
The four other suspects who are minors may be ordered by the Court to be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and required to attend an intervention program for minors.
The PLDT AMMG also recently held its “Ugnayan with PNP, Baranggay Officials and Junkshop Owners” in Muntinlupa City and San Pablo, Laguna in order to forge ties with law enforcement agencies and the local community and thereby prevent telephone cable thefts in the area.
“We are doing this in selected areas nationwide. It’s a community effort. Preventing telephone cable theft will always involve the help of everyone in the community. That is why we continue to ask everyone to be vigilant in reporting these crimes as they occur,” said Mendoza.