NCRPO, NTC raid cell phone outlets

Law enforcers have confiscated 44 undocumented cellular phone units during separate raids at some 50 cell phone outlets in Marikina City and Taguig City.

Metro police chief Director Vidal Querol said the raids were staged in the last few days to discourage second-hand cell phone shops from selling undocumented units.

"Our raids and inspections would be a continuing process to make a statement to these outlets that we mean business," Querol said in an interview.

The raids were conducted following the signing of a memorandum of agreement between Querol and top officials of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) last week to curb the rising cases of cell phone theft in the metropolis.

Under the agreement, the NCRPO would conduct raids in the presence of NTC officials.

The first NCRPO-NTC operation was conducted at a mall in Taguig City, where at least 30 stalls were inspected or raided, said Senior Superintendent Raul Medina, head of the NCRPO regional investigation and detective management (RIDM).

Present during the raid were Querol, NTC Commissioner Ronald Solis; his deputy Jorge Sarmiento; regional director Delilah Deles, and engineer Kendrick Dulay of the NTC National Capital Region.

According to Medina, they confiscated eight undocumented cell phone units at the mall.

Also raided was a mall in Marikina City, where a total of 20 stalls were inspected, resulting in the confiscation of 36 undocumented cell phones, Medina said.

He advised owners of the confiscated cell phones they can have their units back upon presentation of supporting documents to the NTC.

Police also directed stall owners to secure permits from the NTC for the selling of second hand cell phones.

Under the MOA, the NTC wants stall owners to record all their transactions to discourage them from buying and selling stolen cell phones.

"We are trying to curb the rise in the number of phone snatching cases and we can only do this with the full cooperation of all dealers," Medina said. — Non Alquitran