MANILA, Philippines - Five employees of a KTV restaurant in Quiapo, Manila were recently charged before the Manila Regional Trial Court for allegedly stealing electricity from the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) by tapping the electric wire from the establishment they were working for.
The five were identified as Rommel Taburnay, 22, single, stay-in helper of Must Young KTV Bar & Restaurant, resident of 616 Quezon Boulevard, Quiapo, Manila; Robert Mendoza, 40, married , helper of Must Young, resident of 234 Mendoza St., Quiapo, Manila; Jorge Alverio, 34, single, vendor of Must Young, resident of 616 Quezon Blvd., Quiapo, Manila; Kenneth Aliman, 25, single, helper of Must Young, resident of Victoria St., Intramuros, Manila; and Sonny Labrador, alias Isidro Bravo, 52, married, DJ of Must Young, resident of No. 138 St. Martin’s Subdivision, Marilao, Bulacan.
The five were charged by Assistant City Prosecutor Wilfrido Lasala on July 9 in violation of RA 7832 (Anti-Electricity Pilferage Law of 1994). Bail recommended was P24,000 each.
Court records said the five conspired to tap the electric wire connection of Must Young KTV Bar & Restaurant, located at No. 616 Quezon Boulevard, Quiapo, Manila, to a Meralco line near the post without previous authority and consent from Meralco. The five were caught in the act at 8:45 p.m. on July 6 at Must Young KTV Bar & Restaurant tapping the electricity wire of Meralco.
They were arrested by SPO3 Efren Cruz, PO2 Butcher Casballido, PO1 Joseph Espinosa, PO2 Ronaldo Macayan, and PO1 Etherlberto Verana, all of the Eastern Police District (EPD), Pasig City Police Station.
Earlier, Geraldino Josue San Pedro and Clodmar Patano, employees of Meralco and assigned at the company’s Investigation Legal Office, office located at the 8th Floor, Lopez Bldg., Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City, filed a complaint before the EPD. The police then conducted a surveillance and arrested the suspects.
Police seized from the suspects one unit of 60 amperes fuse box, and about 30 meters of No. 6 stranded copper wire with several pairs of alligator clip.