The police seized 151 stolen cell site batteries of telecommunication firms worth P15.1 million from three suspects and a junk shop in Bacolod City 5 p.m. Thursday, June 29.
Arrested were Erwin Aribato, 30, Romelyn Quiatchon, 26, and Joseph Villanueva, 30, of Brgy. Banago, Bacolod City, the police reported Friday.
The three were caught in the act of selling the batteries to JLC Junkshop/ILC surplus owned and operated by Dennis Coo Jr., PCol. Noel Calderon Aliño, Acting Bacolod police director, said.
Confiscated from the suspects were fifteen 12 volts 180AH batteries valued at P1,500,000 that were stolen in Mabinay, Negros Oriental, the police report said.
Seized from the JLC Junkshop/ILC Surplus storage were 136 Globe and Smart telecommunication batteries valued at P13,600,000, the police added.
Cases for violation of Anti-Fencing Law will also be filed against the owner of the junk shop, the police said.
Aliño said they are investigating the possibility that the stealing of these cell site batteries was an inside job as one of the suspects is allegedly an employee of a telecommunications company.
Aliño also said that they are looking into the possibility that the theft of the batteries may be the work of an organized crime group.
The batteries may have been stolen in Negros and Panay, he said.
Some of the arrested suspects had faced previous cases of robbery and possession of illegal drugs, he said.
The police have already recommended the closure of the junk shop.
Street signages and copper wire were also found at the junk shop, Aliño said.
The suspects have been turned over to the Mabinay police and will be charged with robbery, Aliño said.
Only three out of eight suspects were arrested as some were able to escape, Aliño said.
He assured that the police would arrest others involved in the theft of the batteries.*