Illegal car wash operator arrested

An illegal car wash operator in Novaliches was arrested in an entrapment operation by combined elements of Maynilad Water’s Non-Revenue Task Force and the police after receiving report that an illegal service water connection was tapped to a water mainline.

Arrested were Domingo Sevillano, 58, suspected operator of an illegal car wash business and his assistant Diolito Cantuba, 37, of Diego street in Barangay Sta. Lucia, Novaliches, Quezon City.

Gerardo Pilapil, head of the task force, said the team was joined by elements from Criminal Investigation and Detection Office in arresting the suspects.

The joint team discovered that Sevillano’s water service connection, a half-inch garden hose, was illegally tapped to a Maynilad’s water mainline.

Prior to the raid, Maynilad personnel closed the water service connection of Sevillano due to the presence of a by-pass line servicing his house.

The suspects are now detained in Camp Crame.

Maynilad warned that individuals caught stealing water will be charged under Republic Act 8041 or the National Water Crisis Act of 1995 and face imprisonment from six to 12 years. – Pia Lee-Brago