REAL-time CCTV monitoring and swift community response led to the arrest of two men attempting to steal telecommunications equipment along J.P. Rizal Street in Barangay Namayan on Thursday, September 3, 2026.
Mandaluyong City Police officers took custody of the suspects after local Bantay Bayan (community watchmen) caught them following a brief pursuit.
The incident unfolded when a barangay CCTV operator noticed the duo acting suspiciously while riding an electric tricycle.
Suspicions grew after the vehicle pulled up near the Sunny Ridge Condominium, where one passenger dismounted, approached a Globe Telecom distribution box, and tampered with the wiring—causing a sudden electrical spark.
Observing the hazard, Bantay Bayan personnel rushed to the scene to investigate.
Upon being confronted, the suspect fled toward his waiting companion on the electric tricycle. Despite orders to stop, the duo sped off toward Barangay Vergara, triggering a brief chase that ended in their apprehension.
Responding officers recovered several tools and damaged infrastructure from the suspects:
- Equipment: One pair of cutting shears and one screwdriver
- Stolen Materials: 10 damaged Very-high-bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL) E1 connectors valued at ₱50,000
- Hardware: Assorted loose screws and bolts
The suspects face criminal charges for Attempted Theft and violations of Republic Act 10515, or the Anti-Cable Television and Cable Internet Tapping Act of 2013.
Following standard physical examinations at the Mandaluyong City Medical Center, both men were placed under police custody while case documents are finalized for filing before the prosecutor’s office.
NCRPO Officer-in-Charge PBGEN Christopher N. Abrahano commended the barangay security team for their alertness, highlighting how active surveillance protects essential public utilities.
“Public safety is strengthened when communities remain alert and responsive,” PBGEN Abrahano stated, emphasizing that community-police collaboration remains essential to safeguarding Metro Manila’s telecom infrastructure from vandalism and theft.
