Authorities have arrested 27 people in Davao City who were caught in the act of stealing cable wires owned by a telecommunication firm on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

Members of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) caught the suspects in the act of cutting copper cable wires on McArthur Highway Corner Quimpo Boulevard.

Seized from the suspects were 20 kilos of cable wires and cutting paraphernalia. They will allegedly burn the cable wires and sell the copper.

The suspects said they did not know that what they were doing is illegal. They claimed that former neighbors have contacted them and offered them P1,000 as daily stipend.

“Di ko po alam na iligal po yun kinontak lang po kami sa Facebook ng mga kapitbahay dati,” one of the suspects said.

“Naghahanap po sila ng tao binigyan kami ng pamasahe para makapunta dito. Inoperan po kami 1k isang araw syempre sa hirap ng buhay pinatulan po namin kahit hindi po namin alam. Apat na araw na kami ngayon dito,” another suspect added.

Police have received several complaints about cable wire theft from a telecommunications company, which already lost millions of pesos.

Investigators raised the possibility that the suspects are part of an organized crime group. Thirteen of the 27 are from Manila.

“Based sa atong info organized crime ni siya kay dili ta moabot sa ingon ani nga operation nga moabot og 27 kabuok atoang mga dinakpan involving ani nga insidente,” DCPO Spokesperson, Captain Hazel Tuazon, said.

“Dili lang pud ni sila nga reklamo karong bulan naa pay previous cases atoa lang gitigom mao ng naabot ta sa ingon aning operation,” Tuazon added.

Authorities are investigating the incident to determine the personalities behind the illegal activity. Those who have bought the copper wire may also face charges for violation of the Anti-Fencing Law.

The suspects are now detained and will face charges for violation of the Anti-Cable Television and Cable Internet Tapping Act.