Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief P/Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Friday stepped up efforts to strengthen the conviction rate of those involved in cases of theft and pilferage of electricity distribution facilities and materials.

Territorial and other police units have been conducting aggressive operations against electricity theft, but Nartatez said the entire process does not end with the arrest of those involved in the illegal activity. Similar to other criminal activities, especially focus crimes, Nartatez wants to ensure that all those arrested are charged with strong cases in coordination with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to secure convictions.

“The certainty of arrest and punishment is also a strong crime prevention measure because it sends a strong message that the rule of law always prevails. This is what we in the PNP are also focusing on regarding matters pertaining to theft and pilferage of electricity,” Nartatez said.

Earlier, officials of the PNP and a major electric company signed an agreement to strengthen their partnership to protect electricity distribution facilities and materials through enhanced coordination, information sharing, and joint law enforcement efforts.

Nartatez said that this kind of coordination and cooperation should also be replicated across the country in line with the directive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla to strengthen law enforcement efforts and protect consumers from activities that disrupt essential services and burden communities.

He emphasized the need to protect electricity distribution in the country due to its critical role not only in the economy but also in the lives of the Filipino people.

Those arrested are charged under Republic Act No. 7832, or the “Anti-Electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act of 1994.”

He added that any disruption in electricity distribution will certainly have major effects not only on households and schools but also on the business sector, especially the small and medium enterprises that power the country’s economy.

“Protecting power distribution and other critical infrastructure is part of the PNP mandate; we will make sure that this mandate is observed down to the municipal and city levels,” Nartatez said.