Police phone lines cut off by thieves

CABLE thieves were suspected to have caused the loss of 600 phone lines in barangay Mambaling and nearby areas in Cebu City, including the emergency lines for police and offices tasked to handle calamity relief and rescue operations.

All three 166 emergency hotlines of the Mobile Patrol Group of the Cebu City Police Office bogged down since 10 p.m. last Tuesday.

Also affected were the phone lines of the nearby offices of the Mobile Alarm Response System (MARS) and Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CCDRRMC).

The MPG and these two offices share the city-owned building located in Mambaling at the intersection of the access road going to the South Road Properties (SRP).

MPG operator Mimi Alcos said they are worried because most people rely on the 166 hotlines in reporting crimes and other emergencies.

Alcos said they also found out that phone number 262-5352 of the MARS office and 262-1424 of the CCDRRMC bogged down too.

She said they’re suspecting that cable wire thieves were responsible for the loss of phonelines.

Last Nov. 18, the MPG hotlines also bogged down for the same reason, though the lines were immediately fixed by personnel of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT).

the public can call the MPG’s alternative telephone numbers 262-7205 and their Sun Cellular cell phone number 09434211130. CORRESPONDENT JHUNNEX NAPALLACAN With Correspondent Chito Aragon