4 arrested for selling stolen electric meter of MORE Power

Four persons were arrested Thursday, March 17 for allegedly selling stolen electric meter of MORE Power Iloilo.

The Iloilo City’s sole power distribution utility reported that the suspects were caught in an entrapment operation in Brgy. San Isidro, Jaro around 1:00 PM of March 17.

They were identified as Elmar Tupas, 29; Rusky Mike Robles, 29, both of Barangay Habog-Habog, Molo; Roy Reazol, 22; and Randy Occeño, 40, both of Lanit, Jaro.

Tupas, who used to work as a meter installer of the previous distribution company, acted as the leader of the group.

Based on the report of MORE Power, the suspects were selling the stolen electricity meter, including its installation, for a package price of P12,000.

The suspects stole the power meter from a resident in Alta Tierra Subdivision in Jaro. They initially offered it to a consumer in Calumpang and moved to a client in Brgy. San Isidro after the transaction with the former did not prosper.

Tupas admitted to the theft, adding that they stole four more electric meters and had them installed in different locations.

They are the ones responsible for why some electricity meters could not be found in their original location. We had a hard time finding the house of consumers, which resulted to delay in the delivery of billings,” said Jonathan Cabrera, spokesman of MORE Power Iloilo.

The distribution utility vowed that cases will be filed against the suspects, who are now locked up in Jaro Police Station.