Globe is sounding the alarm on surging cable and network equipment theft, reporting 1,245 pilferage incidents as of September 2026, and urgently calling for coordinated action from government down to the barangays to stop the damage. These thefts are cutting off mobile and data services nationwide, disrupting work, education, business, emergency communications, and essential digital access for Filipinos. Worse, funds meant to expand coverage, upgrade service, and strengthen networks are being diverted just to replace stolen gear and restore sites.
“This is no longer just about stolen property—it is about protecting the connectivity communities depend on and the investments meant to serve them,” said Globe General Counsel Froilan Castelo. “We need everyone working together to end this.”
Globe is urging the National Telecommunications Commission to lead a unified response bringing together operators, tower firms, and key agencies. It is calling on the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police, local government units, and barangays to step up on-the-ground vigilance and enforcement. Barangay officials and tanods are the first line of defense—monitoring vulnerable sites, reporting suspicious activity, and verifying that network workers are authorized. The illegal buying and selling of stolen cables and parts must also be targeted, eliminating the market that drives these crimes. Existing laws including the Revised Penal Code and Anti-Fencing Law provide the tools; what is needed now is consistent, firm enforcement across all levels. Globe will keep working with authorities to secure facilities and restore services fast, but lasting protection requires a national effort—from community watch to law enforcement to stopping resale—so infrastructure investments reach Filipinos as intended, not thieves.
