By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

One of the suspects in a series of telecommunication cable theft in Bacolod City was arrested in the city’s Bangga Cegasco in Barangay Pahanocoy.

Police identified the arrested as Romel Ellena, also known by his alias as “Boy Kable,” a construction worker.

Ellena was nabbed last Saturday, May 6, according to Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) director, Police Colonel Noel Aliño, who presented the suspect to the media on Wednesday, May 10.

The suspect admitted to cutting and stealing telco wires in the city, and that he was not alone.

There are three other suspects, all of whom managed to escape.

Recovered from Ellena was a 50-meter telecommunication cable wire with an estimated value of P35,000.

According to Aliño, Ellena previously served jail time for violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Following the incident, Aliño said they are intensifying their campaign against cable theft in the city, classifying Ellena’s group as an organized crime group.

Aliño will summon all of the junk shop operators in the city after the suspect revealed that they melted down the stolen cable wires which are sold to junk shops in the city at P250 to P380 per kilo.

The BCPO director has issued a warning to Ellena’s accomplices and they will not stop hunting down remaining cable thieves./DGB, WDJ