Two boys nabbed for stealing water meters

CEBU, Philippines - Two boys, who are accused of stealing at least 23 water meters of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) in Barangay Lorega-San Miguel, were arrested at past 10 a.m. yesterday.

The boys, aged 13 and 14, were taken into police custody after authorities were informed that they stole the water meter of a woman, who happened to be a neighbor of a policeman.

SPO1 Filomeno Mendaros of the City Investigation and Detective Branch (CIDMB) said that the neighbor of Insp. Genilo Veraque complained to the police official that someone took the water meter situated outside the latter’s house.

The CIDMB team, led by Veraque himself, later traced through the help of some informants the two minor suspects at their respective houses and arrested them.

During interrogation, the two boys admitted selling the latest water meter they stole at a junkshop owned by Juanita Cabato, 63, of Villagonzalo 2, Barangay Tejero.

A follow up at the junkshop resulted to the recovery of 22 other water meters allegedly sold previously by the suspects.

In an interview with reporters yesterday, the two boys claimed they stole water meters by using a pipe wrench and have been stealing one or two water meters at their barangay, including the nearby Barangay Zapatera, at night and sold them to Cabato’s junkshop for P210 each.

They alleged that they spent the money they earned from selling the items in internet cafes.

Cabato, in an interview with The FREEMAN, denied the two were selling such items at her junkshop, which has been operating for two years.

“Ang ako man mga sakop sa shop nanawat ana, mga wala sad alamag. ‘Nya naa sad mi cashier. Kay kung wala ko sulod sa balay, naa ko pirme sa gawas ‘nya wala g’yud ko’y kalibutan nga nagbaligya diay na sila ana. Wa gani ko kaila anang mga bataa,” she alleged.

Mendaros said that should the MCWD files a case against Cabato, the latter can be charged for violating Presidential Decree 1612 or the Anti-Fencing Law.

As for the two boys, Mendaros said they will be later tuned over to their parents as they could not detain or charge them for being minors. — THE FREEMAN