Personnel of Iloilo City Police Station 1 have identified the leader of a group that stole copper wires in Guanco Street. The leader owns a junk shop, police said.

The theft was reported dawn on December 28, 2025.

According to Captain Melchor Tolentino, chief of the Iloilo City Police Station 1, the leader is from Negros Occidental and owns a junk shop.

Police were able to identify two of the leader's cohort.

According to Tolentino, they secured a CCTV [closed-circuit television] footage in Guanco Street. The police got information on the identity of the owner of the van and truck used by the suspects and where the stolen items were loaded.

“Taga-Negros ang mga ito at based sa mga nakita natin at nakuha nating information, nag-e-engage rin ito sa negosyong scrap dahil nakita natin ang truck mismo na ginamit dito at ang larawang nakita natin na may karga itong scrap,” Tolentino said.

According to the telecommunication company (telco) that owns the cable wires, the loot is estimated to be 500-meters long, of three different kinds of cable worth over P600,000.

The company surmised that a syndicate is behind the thievery. 

“Medyo sindikato talaga ito because they are equipped with proper tools and materials para i-open ang mga manholes namin because ang mga manholes namin naka-lock yan, there are safety tools na inilagay namin or safety locks para hindi madaling ma-open,” said Dane Macapagal, head of the telecommunication company.

Aside from the City Proper area, a similar incident happened in Barangay Sambag, Jaro where a manhole was also opened forcibly.

Police reckoned there is only one group responsible for the illegal activity.

“Ito ang nagma-match sa puting utility van na nakita rin dito sa Guanco. Yan ang tinitingnan natin na maaaring isang grupo lang ang gumawa niyan,” Tolentino added.

The telco has coordinated with the police for the appropriate charges to be filed against the culprits.