Globe Telecom, in partnership with the North Cotabato Police Provincial Office, apprehended two suspects linked to a series of cable-cutting incidents.
North Cotabato police arrested Jonie Magtawil Dacutan, a member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and his cousin Jimmy Apolinsia Dacutan. The suspects are linked to multiple incidents of cutting Globe’s underground fiber optic cables (FOCs) in Barangay Manarapan, Carmen town, disrupting services for numerous customers.
“Cable cut is not just a problem for Globe but a serious crime that affects entire communities by depriving them of vital telecommunications services,” Joel Agustin, senior vice president and head of Network Planning and Engineering at Globe, said.
“We are grateful for the support of the North Cotabato Police Provincial Office in apprehending these suspects. We will continue to work with law enforcers as we remain committed to protecting our network assets through enhanced security measures and active stakeholder collaboration,” he added.
The incidents began on 12 December 2023 when Globe’s underground FOC in Manarapan was severed by unidentified suspects. The perpetrators left a note demanding a P250,000 ransom or they cut more lines by December 20. When they did not get paid, the suspects struck again as promised.
A third cut cable happened on 23 March this year when the thieves left a contact number. This led Globe’s security team to engage with the suspects via text and calls. The perpetrators demanded a ransom of P300,000 or they would cut another underground FOC in Carmen town.
Globe immediately coordinated with the North Cotabato Police to set up an entrapment operation in the guise of a payoff. That led to the arrest of the thieves now detained at the Matalam Police Station pending the filing of criminal charges.
Cable cuts, a criminal act and a global phenomenon, are a persistent problem for telcos serving as a hurdle to connectivity.
In 2023, Globe reported a staggering 26 percent increase in pilferage cases across its facilities, with 3,887 cases versus only 3,069 cases in 2022. Mindanao accounted for 510 cases.
In response to the escalation, Globe has intensified its asset protection strategies and urged local government units to conduct random inspections to boost the security of telco equipment.
