Charges have been filed against two brothers that authorities said stole the bulb of at least 132 streetlights in Santa Barbara, Iloilo.
As of this writing, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) continues to do an inventory of the lights.
Raphy Señeres, the chief of the Santa Barbara Municipal Police Station, said the brothers allegedly stole the bulbs because they could make money out of the frames.
“Kinuha daw nila kasi maaari nilang mapakinabangan ang mga frame ng solar light. And later on, nakasanayan na nila. Kaya naging pa-ulit-ulit na ang kanilang pangunguha,” Señeres said.
On May 25, the Santa Barbara Police recovered 24 solar panels and seven lithium batteries from the brothers’ house in Barangay Cabugao Sur.
“Yan ang idadagdag natin as evidence kasi nakuha natin yan sa bahay ng mga suspek.”
The brothers remain at large, as of this writing. Their sister told GMA Regional TV News One Western Visayas that her brothers have not returned home since the theft of the bulbs was made public.
“Ewan ko nga, hindi naman sila nagparamdam… hindi na talaga,” the sister said.
She said they have called her brothers out several times but the two reportedly never listened to advice.
“Ilang beses na naming pinagsabihan kaso matigas naman kasi,” she said.
INCIDENTS
A video taken at 3 a.m. on May 11, 2026 in Barangay Bolong Oeste in Santa Barbara, Iloilo captured the theft.
According to Larry Deatras, President of the Liga ng mga Barangay of Santa Barbara, Iloilo, said earlier that it was in the second week of May that they started realizing the bulbs have gone missing.
Each streetlight costs P34,000.
“Malaking losses para sa gobyerno na nagsusumikap na mapa-ayos at ma-beautify ang lugar kasi maliban sa town of the heritage kami, daanan pa papuntang airport,” Deatras said.
The Santa Barbara Police said they have recorded 10 incidents of theft - seven in 2025 and three in 2026, so far.
Authorities have identified the man in the video and found that he would steal together with his brother and a friend.
The man also allegedly stole a streetlight in 2025 but charges were not filed against him.
The suspects would allegedly wait for barangay tanods to stop patrolling before they would steal the streetlight.
Based on information gathered, the street lights stolen have not been turned over to the LGU.
The brothers are facing theft charges.
