Wires and cables theft gang busted

Six alleged members of a robbery gang which specializes in the pilferage of Manila Electric Company (Meralco) meters, transmission wires and cables were arrested in a police checkpoint in Valenzuela City yesterday morning.

City police chief Senior Superintendent Oscar Paginado identified the suspects as Milagros de Jesus, her husband and alleged leader of the group, Angel, 59, both of 20 Azucena Street, Bahayang Pag-asa Subdivision, Valenzuela; Inego Ocasla Jr., 27, Eduardo Bantiles, 46, both of 68 Palay Street, Tumana, Concepcion, Marikina City; Reynante Ramos and Calixto Semal, both of Barangka, Marikina City.

Investigation showed suspects Ocasla and Bantiles were the first to be arrested at around 2:30 a.m. along Que Grande Street in Barangay Ugong while on board a taxicab.

It was gathered that members of Police Community Precinct (PCP) 2 led by PO3 Rodolfo Manuel were conducting routine checkpoint when they spotted the duo acting suspiciously.

When they were flagged down the taxi cab, the police found eight electric meters inside the vehicle and asked for the pertinent documents relating to it. The duo could not present any papers and were arrested.

When investigated, the two admitted that the meters were stolen from various places in Valenzuela and Marikina and implicated their cohorts.

A follow-up operation to collar the rest of the group was conducted by a team led by SPO4 Henry Marteja.

The police pounced on the De Jesus couple, Ramos and Semal as they negotiated for the purchase of seven electric meters allegedly for P250 each with a police undercover agent.

The suspects were charged with violating the law against pilferage of electricity and theft of transmission lines and materials (RA 7832) with the help of Meralco representatives.