• THERESA MAE DULMAN
A mobile phone technician, who is currently at large, is facing charges for violating the Anti-Fencing Law after purchasing two smartphones that were stolen from a local doctor during a recent robbery.
The suspect, who operates a repair booth at the Centroplex mall in the downtown area, allegedly bought an iPhone 17 Pro and a Samsung Galaxy A55 5G from the robbers for approximately P7,500.
Both devices were later identified as properties of a female physician who was held up at gunpoint on the night of May 28 along Galo Street, Barangay 19, while she was opening the gate to her apartment, on her way home from duty.
According to Bacolod City Police Station 1 commander Police Major Rhondyl Tapang, the technician initially turned over the stolen mobile phones to the authorities. However, he went missing the following day and refused to cooperate with investigators.
“We summoned him to execute an affidavit to support the case, which could have cleared him of conspiracy, but he failed to do so and fled,” Tapang said.
Tapang noted that the two robbery suspects were regular customers of the technician, which explains why they brought the stolen goods to his booth.
Tapang said that Police Station 1 will conduct inspections among phone repairers and second-hand vendors in the downtown area, and will discuss with them the Anti-Fencing Law, where buyers of stolen property face criminal liabilities.
He said they will request assistance with the city government’s Business Permits and License Division and will require the traders to present proper business permits to ensure all transactions are legitimate.
Tapang also urged the public to avoid buying heavily discounted, second-hand phones without receipts and preserve their proof of ownership, such as receipts and boxes, or certification to aid police recovery efforts in the event of theft.*
