Senator seeks crackdown on reconditioned phones

Opposition Sen. Tessie Aquino-Oreta urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Trade and Industry to jointly crack down on the sale of reconditioned cellular phones that devious merchants pass off as slightly used, if not brand new, units.

"These second-hand celfones are sold at a much lower price than brand-new units because they are either stolen or contain substandard parts," she said.

Oreta cited reports that parts of these reconditioned celfones, particularly those sold in makeshift stalls in some shopping malls, have been cannibalized from busted units, or have defects not covered by sales warranties.

She warned consumers against buying these second-hand units, saying these might cost them more than brand new units in the long run because of the steep repair costs that they have to cough up once these units conk out.

"The PNP, particularly the new leadership of the National Capital Region Police Office, should team up with the DTI in busting nefarious dealers who dupe consumers into buying these reconditioned units at a much cheaper price, only to find out that they have been had because these celfones later turn out to be defective," Oreta said.

Earlier, she called on newly appointed chiefs of the NCRPO and the Western Police District to stop the rampant theft of celfones and the sale of stolen units, particularly in the Quiapo-Sta. Cruz area.

"Ridding Quiapo of celfone robbers will help reverse the growing public perception that the police are helpless in curbing crime," Oreta explained. — Efren Danao