Selling of secondhand phones no longer allowed in Manila

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno ordered on Monday the ban on the selling of secondhand cellphones in the city’s capital.

“Bawal na magtinda ng secondhand na cellphone sa Lungsod ng Maynila (Selling secondhand phones in Manila is not allowed),” Moreno said in a press conference.

According to Moreno, this would stop robbers and snatchers around Manila if no one patronizes their scheme.

He also said that all business establishments selling secondhand phones should follow the order.

“Naci-circumvent kami lagi ng tolongges na ito, nalulusutan kami, edi gagawin natin patayin natin yung gripo. May tubo ka pero walang tulo,” Moreno said.

(They circumvent us and manage to sneak around us, so we will just turn the faucet off and nip it in the bud. You can have a pipe but it won’t have any water.)

“Whether mall, tiangge, o tindahan, ipagbabawal ang pagtitinda ng secondhand cellphone sa Lungsod ng Maynila tutal ayaw nila magtino,” he added.

(We will ban selling secondhand phones in mall, bazaars, or stores in Manila because they don’t want to shape up.)

As for the case of pawnshops, Moreno explained that these establishments require individuals to present proof of ownership regarding their items.

Nevertheless, Moreno admitted that pawnshop owners often times do not double check if the items they receive were secondhand or not.

Moreno also disclosed that the Manila City Council is already drafting an ordinance regarding the matter.

Moreno said that possible punishment for violators is closure of the business.

Aside from this, Moreno also threatened to shut down Isetann Mall in Recto if it will be found harboring stolen phones.

Based on a testimony, Moreno said a victim got his phone stolen and then personally found it at one of the stalls in Isetann Mall.

“Ipapasara namin yung Isetann kapag napatunayan namin ‘yung claim ng bata. Matigas ang ulo ng Isetann eh, buong mall (ipapasara). Eh kinakalulo niyo yung illegal activities eh. Bakit hindi? Basta napatunayan namin,” Moreno warned.

(We will close down Isetann if we prove his claim. If the management of Isetann will be hardheaded, we’ll close down the whole mall. There’s so many illegal activities. Why not? As long as we can prove it.)

“Ako, I don’t mind kahit [anong mall] pa yan, I don’t mind. Basta kinalong niyo yung mga tindahan na nagtitinda ng nakaw (I don’t mind what mall it may be, just as long as it harbors stores that sell stolen goods). Basic iyon, it does not goes only to Isetann, it goes with everybody,” he added.  /je