Davao Light and Power Company

Three former employees of a local electrical contractor of Davao Light and Power Co., Inc. (Davao Light) in Davao City were arrested while hiding at Babak, Island Garden City of Samal by PNP personnel and the Davao City Mobile Force Company in two separate operations last December 29, 2021 and January 4, 2022.

 

They were apprehended for the crime of theft for stealing a distribution transformer owned by the utility, on January 12, 2015. Arresting policemen identified them as Rolan A. Alcoriza, Wilfredo A. Alcoriza, and Harley P. Canon. The judgment against them rendered by Judge Emmanuel C. Carpio of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 17 last October 14, 2021 became final on October 29 for their failure to appeal resulting in their arrest to serve their sentences.

A supervisor of Davao Light saw and caught the felons on camera in the act of removing a transformer from a pole along Km. 10, Sasa in broad daylight, using equipment and tools prescribed by Davao Light for their work, and then loading it at the back of the boom truck that they also use for servicing the utility’s requirements. The eyewitness, Diosdado Gonzales, immediately verified from company records that the trio acted without any work order issued to them by the utility and that they did so without authority taking advantage of their possession of tools, vehicle and equipment officially prescribed for their work as employees of an accredited contractor.

The transformer was not recovered although the convicts admitted that they were the ones who took it down from an electric pole of Davao Light that was also captured in video clips taken by the eyewitness. They could not explain however what happened to the stolen item, a heavy electrical equipment usually installed atop electric poles. Judge Carpio, the trial judge who penned the decision against them found their excuse that they just left the transformer in their truck or in the company garage as unbelievable because they failed to report this to their employer or Davao Light, resulting in their conviction.

Davao Light President and COO Rodger S. Velasco attributed the successful prosecution of the case to the alertness and presence of mind of Gonzales and the final arrest of the criminals to the partnership of the operatives in different localities, surveillance and leg work, and the cooperation with authorities of the communities where the convicts were hiding. “We will continue to uphold the law and will resolutely pursue those found guilty so they will answer for their crimes. The arrest of these criminals will serve as a deterrent against any unlawful acts that are being or will be committed against the company for the protection of our customers against undisciplined or corrupt workers,” said Velasco.