By Francis Allan L. Angelo
Iloilo City’s power distributor and the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) strengthened their efforts in getting rid of innovative power pilferers or “jumpers.”
MORE Power legal counsel Allana Babayen-on recently led an orientation and crash course on the legal aspects of apprehensions of power pilferers with ICPO officials.
The forum highlighted the significant provisions of Republic Act 7832 (Anti-Pilferage of Electricity and Theft of Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Act of 1994).
Babayen-on said the orientation with the ICPO police headed by Colonel Eric Dampal was “very fruitful and significant” as she noted that some police officers are unfamiliar with the law.
“What is very significant here though is that we are so glad that all of them understand the consequences if power pilferers continue to proliferate because it will certainly result to a higher systems loss which all of us have to bear, and if jumpers are stopped will also eventually result to a better power and sustainable power distribution,” she said.
“We are so happy that the PNP is open to the idea of partnership with us in the first place. Indeed, we really need each other in order to successfully launch an operation against pilferers and power saboteurs.”
Babayen-on said it is time for MORE Power and the PNP to heighten and be innovative in conducting operations as power pilferers have become more innovative also.
“Identifying a jumper is really highly technical which is why a partnership with MORE and the PNP is a must. You know, power pilferers have become innovative these days and they have been employing a lot of tactics at the expense of legitimate consumers. Can you imagine jumpers being buried on the ground or inside a living tree? These pilferers have just engineered a lot of ways just to do the illegal way of connecting into the main power line,” she said.
Dampal said he welcomes the partnership with MORE Power as crash courses on pertinent laws will give them additional knowledge on anti-pilferage operations.
“This is very useful and this is very significant in our function. With the knowledge we gain from orientation and related programs like this, our officers are becoming more experts and vigilant enough to determine the illegalities relative to power pilferage,” he said.
Dampal also said the partnership with MORE Power has led to numerous apprehensions of jumpers.
“So, my advice to those who would want to engage in illegal connection is this: Don’t ever try because we will definitely arrest you and you will eventually be prosecuted,” he said.
Ariel Castañeda, project manager of MORE Power I-Konek Task Force, said seven persons were arrested and charged on Tuesday.
Arrested persons will be required to pose at least P120,000 for the bail.
Castañeda said at least 400 jumpers have been disconnected in 17 Iloilo City barangays in the last three weeks of operation in partnership with the ICPO.
