NATION

Thief nabbed stealing wires

Elmer Recuerdo · Aug 29, 2026, 1:06 AM

RESCUE experts from the Bureau of Fire Protection regional office were deployed to help arrest a suspect in the theft of electrical wires at the San juanico Bridge who attempted to elude arrest by climbing up the braces and girders of the bridge. — BUREAU of Fire Protection Eastern Visayas

TACLOBAN CITY — Despite its importance as a vital link between Leyte and Samar, the iconic San Juanico Bridge continues to be targeted by thieves pilfering public property.

The 805th Maneuver Company, which provides security at the San Juanico Bridge, arrested a suspected scrap buyer after he was allegedly caught stealing electrical wires from the bridge on Thursday.

Police Capt. Mardy Serna, head of the police mobile company, said patrolling officers spotted the 29-year-old suspect, identified as alias “Jep-jep,” a resident of Barangay San Pedro, Sta. Rita, Samar, going underneath the bridge.

The officers later caught the suspect allegedly taking wires believed to have been removed from the bridge.

Pat. Julerth Capili Paciencia and Pat. Jeremias Geremias Carit, both members of the 805th Maneuver Company assigned to the Leyte side, immediately apprehended the suspect. He reportedly attempted to escape but was eventually cornered underneath the bridge.

The unit coordinated with the Sta. Rita Municipal Police Station, Tacloban City Police Office Station 3 and the Bureau of Fire Protection Regional Office 8 to safely retrieve the suspect.