EXTORTION SUSPECTS. Photos show the three linemen arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas in an entrapment operation in Talisay City, Cebu on Tuesday (Jan. 25, 2022), for allegedly asking money from consumers who wished to prioritize restoration of their power lines. The arrest stemmed from the request made by Visayan Electric Co. president Engr. Raul Lucero after learning that certain linemen were extorting from victims of Typhoon Odette in exchange for power line reconnection. (Contributed photos)
CEBU CITY – Three linemen were arrested in an entrapment operation after they were caught asking money for the restoration of power lines destroyed by Typhoon Odette in December, the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) said Thursday.
Lawyer Renan Oliva, NBI-7 regional director, said in a press conference with officials of the Visayan Electric Co. (Veco) that the three were arrested on Tuesday in Upper Mohon, Talisay City. Two of the suspects were accredited with the power distribution firm while the other was formerly accredited.
“We conducted an entrapment operation. This entrapment operation was the result of our investigation based on the request of Engineer (Raul) Lucero last January 11,” he said.
Lucero, Veco president and chief operating officer, and Quennie Bronce, the company’s communications officer, attended the press conference.
Lucero requested the NBI to probe and subsequently file criminal charges against linemen who are “extorting money from consumers in exchange of priority electrical repairs and immediate re-energization of electrical connections damaged by Typhoon Odette”.
Oliva said Veco, the police, and even Governor Gwendolyn Garcia issued separate advisories to the public to report linemen who would ask for money in exchange for power restoration.
He identified the three arrested suspects as Maximo Baguio Mario, Brian Burlaos Sacmar, Doroteo Valmoria Auxterio. Seized from their possession was the PHP15,000 used in the entrapment operation, PHP10,000 of which is marked while the rest is not, as it was requested by the group as an additional payment.
Mario was also caught possessing several copies of Veco billing statement bearing the names of different consumers.
The suspects will be charged with violation of Republic Act 7832 or the Anti-Pilferage of Electricity and Theft of Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Act of 1994, in relation to Article 8 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) on conspiracy.
Another charge would be in violation of Article 318 of the RPC on other deceits in relation to Article 8 of the same Code.
Oliva said they have included in the charges a person who facilitated the generation and issuance of “job orders” that made the linemen's shenanigans appear legitimate.
Typhoon Odette felled electric poles, transformers and lines on December 16 last year which rendered thousands of households in Cebu without power for days and even weeks.
With the help of allied companies under the Aboitiz Power Corp. and Manila Electric Company, the Veco scheduled restoration works from place to place. (PNA)
