PLDT scores conviction of Las Piñas cable thief

MANILA, Philippines, June 28, 2007 – PLDT’s efforts to curb cable theft got a big boost recently with the conviction of another person in Las Piñas City.

Cesar E. Manzano, 42, was found guilty of stealing a PLDT aerial cable at the Madrigal Compound, Barangay Daniel Fajardo last year by Judge Bonifacio Sanz Maceda of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 275, Las Piñas City. 

Manzano was sentenced to 6-10 year imprisonment. 

In a 5-page decision, Judge Maceda rejected Manzano’s plea that he did not steal the cables faced by solid evidence and testimonies of barangay officials who accosted and arrested him while still in possession of the stolen cables.

“The records show that some of the stolen articles were recovered from the appellant’s possession…(his) denial is, therefore, self-serving,” he said.

The penalty imposed on Manzano is prescribed by the Revised Penal Code for theft of more than P22, 000 in value. The PLDT cable lines that Manzano cut and tried to sell to a junkshop before his arrest were made of high grade bronze wire valued at      P30, 000.

PLDT hailed Maceda’s decision and said it will further inspire the company to pursue its vigorous campaign against cable theft.

“We will continue to serve our clients and subscribers by ensuring that our services are neither hampered nor made vulnerable by people who seek to disrupt communication by stealing PLDT cables,” said GMM Asset Protection 2 Division Head Wilfredo A. Arcinue.

He said a total of 102 suspected cable thieves have already been caught from January to June this year resulting to 14 convictions in the Southern and Eastern parts of Metro Manila.