Manila, Jan. 13 -- Two recent incidents of wire theft have once again put the spotlight on the dangers to public safety and the inconvenience to communities caused by such illegal actions.

Just four days into the new year, Meralco reported an attempted power cable theft in Quezon City that disrupted power service to nearly 8,000 customers for four hours. The suspect, a 37-year-old man, sustained flashover burns and even fell from a tree.

In Las Pinas, police arrested 17 men accused of stealing copper wires from PLDT. The stolen wires were valued at around P560,000, cutting off internet and communication lines.

These cases, coming on the heels of similar incidents recorded in 2025, are only the latest in a disturbing trend that threaten...