SunStar: Cebu lampposts being cannibalized

By the time the controversy over their acquisition is resolved, the lampposts bought for last January’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Cebu may no longer work. Sun-Star Cebu (www.sunstar.com.ph) reported Thursday that the possibility now looms after five men were caught cutting down one of the lampposts in Lahug, Cebu City Monday night. It said the men were trying to cut down the lamps along the road to the Marco Polo Hotel in Lahug district. Policemen from the Mabolo Police Station were on routine patrol when they saw five men taking the insulation wires of the post at 6 p.m. They managed to arrest only three of them. The three were identified as Muncho Rosales, 21; Bram Philip Villarba, 19; and Frederick Capuyan, 23. Junny Chavez and Alfie Saquilabon were able to flee. All five of them are from Middle Nivel Hills, Lahug. The three admitted that they cut the insulation wires of the lamppost, believing they can get some money from selling them. Last April 13, the Visayan Electric Co. (Veco) cut off power to some 660 units of "apex-type" lampposts in Cebu City and Mandaue City. Acting Visayas Deputy Ombudsman Virginia Santiago earlier expressed concern that "if these lampposts aren’t lit, thieves will cut them down one by one to be used for scrap iron." On the other hand, the Cebu City government cannot acquire ownership of the streetlamps without a tripartite agreement with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the contractor. City Administrator Francisco Fernandez said the City is ready to take over the lampposts and shoulder the electricity bills that will be incurred once the DPWH turns over the units to them. Fernandez he said he will ask DPWH to prepare the documents so he can ask Veco to restore power supply to the lamps to avoid theft or tampering of the street lamps. DPWH and city officials and the contractor already agreed on the turnover during a meeting at the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas last month but the parties have yet to enter into a tripartite agreement. City Councilor Augustus Pe Jr. said he instructed the Mobile Patrol Group to patrol along Salinas Drive and S. Osmeña Blvd. every night, where the lampposts stand. Pe said he has not received reports of any pilferage, but he will ask to increase police visibility in the areas where the lampposts are to prevent further damage to the properties. - GMANews.TV