Armed PCG personnel to guard several pumping stations following repeated theft cases: Dizon

PASAY CITY — Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon on Monday said several pumping stations in Manila would be guarded by “heavily armed” Philippine Coast Guard personnel to deter thieves targeting cable and electronic components.

This, after 3 individuals were caught following another case of cable and electronic theft involving the Diokno Pumping Station in Pasay City.

“Yung 6 pumping stations dito sa Roxas Boulevard magpapadeploy na rin tayo ng PCG, heavily armed Coast Guard (personnel) para matakot ang mga siraulo na nagpaplano pa magnakaw dito,” Dizon said during an inspection at the site on Monday.

Out of the 3 suspects nabbed, 2 were workers under the contractor of the project, Dizon said. Another suspect is a resident in the area, while another person remains at large.

“Yung dalawa empleyado ng contractor, so pinagsabihan din natin ang contractor at the same time since empleyado nya ang gumawa ang pagpapalit nito pinapalitan ko doon sa contractor para walang gastos ang gobyerno ,” Dizon said.

“Very, very serious ang ganitong klaseng pagnanakaw, hindi lang ito basta basta pagnanakaw lang, yung epekto ng pagnanakaw nila. Tulad ngayon may paparating na bagyo kung hindi naagapan… eh hindi na naman gagana ang pumping station na to, babaha na naman sa bandang Pasay hanggang Roxas Boulevard,” he added.

Dizon said theft cases would be filed against the individuals.

“Papakulong natin, kakasuhan natin. Pero gusto ko maramdaman nila ang epekto ng ginawa nila. Kung anong hirap ng empleyado natin na nagtatrabaho and honest work, naglilinis ng putik gusto ko yun ang maranasan nila,” he said.

Over P183,000 of electrical components have been stolen from the pumping station, according to reports.