CPPO seeks public cooperation vs water meter thieves

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Police Office is calling on the public to report water meter thefts as it received more complaints on the incidents around the city.

Lt. Colonel Maria Theresa Macatangay, information officer of CCPO, made the statement Monday after they were able to arrest four water meter thieves in the city for the past two days.

"Atong nakita nga kini sila nga personality, di lang usa, naay uban duha, ilang gikawat, the recent one is involved in the theft of the tulo ka water meters," said Macatangay.

In line with this, Macatangay said they are coordinating closely with the Metropolitan Cebu Water District to improve their surveillance and monitoring on water theft.

Aside from this, they are also set to discuss other measures that they could implement to address this concern.

"And also your police is checking and monitoring kaning mga mamaligya og scrap metals if they are also engaged in buying of this type of items, kay if they are, they might become liable with the law," said Macatangay.

It was reported that two male suspects were arrested while their cohorts remained at-large after they were caught on act cutting an MCWD water meter in Barangay San Nicolas Proper, Cebu City.

The police said the suspects were arrested in two different incidents between Saturday and Sunday dawn.

The police said these operations were also in line with their directives to deter the rampant reports of water meter thieves around their area.

Police Senior Sergeant Rene Remedios said they often received complaints of water meter being stolen.

"Karon ra ning mga buwana, nya ang ilang ibaligya nila, ang ilang dispatsa, kay mahalin man ang bronse ba, and meter gyud di mahalin, ang mahalin ana ang kanang bronse gyud, kanang isig ka tumoy," said Remedios. — GMR (FREEMAN)