Brains behind illegal water connection nabbed

Engineers from the inspectorate and Anti-Fraud department of Maynilad Water Services Inc. nabbed last week the leader of a syndicate believed to be responsible for facilitating several illegal water connections in its system.

Gerry Pilapil, Anti-Fraud department head, identified the suspect as 42-year-old Jaime Argonza, of 235 Paghanapin St., Tondo, Manila. He was caught in the act of tapping from Maynilad’s mainline at Atlanta corner 15th Street, Port Area, Manila. It was the first "citizen’s arrest" conducted by Maynilad engineers.

The syndicate is believed to have defrauded Maynilad of more than P500,000 worth of under collections through several illegal connections they installed for unsuspecting customers.

Pilapil said Argonza has a pending warrant of arrest since last year. The department received a tip on the suspect’s whereabouts last Feb. 14.

Pilapil said Argonza would approach a customer and offer to facilitate his water service connection for P12,000. He would claim to be a Maynilad employee and present an identification card and several documents to prove it.

Based on the department’s records, Argonza earned more than P200,000 from the 24 households in Port Area whose water service connections he installed.

Argonza is now facing charges of violation of Republic Act 8041 or the National Water Crisis Act of 1995 particularly for stealing water for profit. He could be imprisoned from six months to 12 years if found guilty. He is presently detained at the Western Police District Command Station 5.