#ICYMI: PLDT records over 2,400 cable theft, vandalism cases

Industry giant PLDT is strengthening its collaboration with local authorities to arrest individuals involved in cable theft and vandalism.

File photo: PLDT logo

Cable thieves nabbed

In a statement on Wednesday, the company said its coordination with the Philippine National Police and barangay officials has led to the arrest of 2,487 theft suspects over the last three years, including almost 1,000 arrests in 2024.

Butch Jimenez, chief operating officer and network head at PLDT, said that aside from upgrading their network, the group has been spending "a lot of man hours to secure our network."

This is a big win for our security team—and we extend our gratitude to the PNP, and to our partners in the barangays and communities who have helped us catch these suspects, Jimenez said.

PLDT said network equipment theft and vandalism are among the top causes of internet downtime in the country, with copper cables, power cables, and batteries among the most stolen network items.

While the crackdown against these individuals continues, another official of PLDT said the group "remains vigilant."

We're still implementing stronger physical security controls, surveillance measures, and rapid response strategies to make sure our customers stay connected. I'm proud of our teamwork, preparedness, and proactive security mindset—but we intend to do even better this year, said Wilfredo Gonio, head of Security Central Command and Administration Center at PLDT.

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