Junk shop yields tons of copper wires during CIDG raid

By Paola Gaabucayan

THE Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) yesterday raided a junk shop in Barangay Carmen here and found tons of copper wires believed to have been stolen from telecommunications companies in the city.

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) operatives led by Senior Insp. Pepito Reyes raided Mataas Junk Shop at V. Castro Street in Carmen based on a search warrant issued by Judge Emmanuel Pasal of the 28th branch of the Regional Trial Court.

Authorities said the establishment is owned by one Chen Hong She and managed by Jay Tan.

Tan said Chen is currently in Manila.

Authorities said the establishment could not show receipts or any document that would show the copper wires were not stolen.

“It’s very clear there are things here that are not junk,” said Reyes.

Police said the copper wires are believed to belong to the capitol-owned Misamis Oriental Telephone System (Misortel) and some from the Department of Transportation and Commerce (DOTC).

Tito Domingo, a worker at the junk shop, said the establishment has been getting the copper wire deliveries from people with trucks and motorcycles.

They would unload kilos of copper wires at the junk shop, he said.

A kilo costs some P270, he said.

Domingo said he and other workers were surprised when CIDG raided the shop, saying they did not know that copper wires were from stolen cables.

Domingo said the raid meant one thing: he and 13 other workers won’t be able to get a “cash advance.”

Misortel general manager Fernando Vincent Dy said he and other capitol officials were very happy with what the CIDG did. He said the raid would send a strong warning to cable thieves and those who buy stolen cables.

SPO1 Ricardo Ratilla said the copper wires would be turned over to a court and the junk shop would have to be closed temporarily. He said the establishment would be charged with violation of the anti-fencing law.