THE National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has ordered a Metro-wide crackdown against cable theft and infrastructure pilferage to safeguard critical power and telecommunication lines across the capital.
NCRPO Officer-in-Charge Police Brigadier General Christopher Abrahano issued the directive to all five Metro Manila police districts following the arrest of a 30-year-old man caught allegedly cutting utility wires during a patrol in Barangay San Antonio, Makati City, early Thursday morning, October 1, 2026.
Abrahano praised the Makati operation as a model for proactive law enforcement, emphasizing that protecting essential utility infrastructure requires constant vigilance and immediate intervention.
“What happened in Makati should serve as a model for the entire Metro Manila. We will not wait for cable theft to disrupt communications, electricity, or other essential services before we act,” Abrahano stated.
“One act of cable theft can affect an entire community. It can interrupt services, cause inconvenience to residents and businesses, and potentially create safety risks,” added Abrahano.
Under the new directive, police units will step up foot and mobile patrols in high-risk zones, particularly during late-night and early-morning hours when pilferage most frequently occurs.
Commanders have also been instructed to collaborate closely with barangay officials, local security groups, utility providers, and telecommunications companies to map out vulnerable areas, share real-time intelligence, and establish fast-response reporting channels.
Furthermore, the NCRPO chief instructed investigators to determine whether reported cable cuts are isolated events or part of wider, organized theft rings operating in the metropolis.
The public is also urged to immediately report any unauthorized individuals seen carrying line-cutting tools or tampering with overhead utility wiring.
The suspect arrested in Makati faces formal criminal charges for violating Republic Act No. 7832, also known as the Anti-Electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act of 1994, alongside theft under Article 308 of the Revised Penal Code.
