TACLOBAN CITY – A construction worker was arrested early Tuesday after authorities caught him allegedly stealing electrical wiring from the iconic San Juanico Bridge.

Elements of the 805th Maneuver Company were conducting a routine motorcycle patrol at around 3:40 a.m. on 30 June when they spotted a man loitering on the Leyte side of the bridge during prohibited hours.

Pedestrians are not allowed on the bridge during nighttime, partly to prevent suicide attempts and for security reasons.

P/Capt. Mardy Serna, officer in charge of the 805th Maneuver Company, said personnel approached the man to verify why he was on the bridge at that hour. During the inspection, officers found him carrying electrical wires later identified as having been unlawfully removed from the bridge.

The suspect, identified only by the alias "Kuya G," 27, a resident of Barangay San Pedro, Sta. Rita, Samar, was found with about 20 meters of copper electrical wire valued at around P12,000.

Authorities arrested the suspect after he failed to present proof of ownership of the recovered items.

Pilferage of electrical cables has long been cited as one of the causes of repeated streetlight outages on the San Juanico Bridge.

Police also discovered during the investigation that the suspect is a repeat offender. He was previously arrested by the same unit in May 2026 for the same offense.

Serna said the arrest highlights the importance of sustained police visibility and patrol operations, particularly because the San Juanico Bridge is a critical piece of public infrastructure.

The suspect was turned over to the Tacloban City Police Office-Police Station 3 for booking, documentation, and the filing of appropriate charges.