PNP, Globe Telecom security team arrest seller of illegal repeater

A recent joint entrapment operation conducted by agents of the Philippine National Police and security personnel of Globe Telecom led to the arrest of illegal seller of signal boosters and WIMAX modems in Cebu City.

The arrest follows intensified efforts by the telecommunications company to minimize, if not eliminate, the sale of illegal repeaters or signal boosters that cause cellular signal interference.

A buy-bust operation jointly conducted by police and a Globe security team at St Jude Barangay in Mabolo, Cebu City led to the arrest of a certain Paul Lacaron.

Confiscated from the suspect include various models of 3G antenna or illegal repeaters, several items of Globe WIMAX modems, assorted circuit board of Globe WIMAX, and other telecommunications equipment.

Upon tactical interrogation, it was discovered that Lacaron had been previously arrested for selling reconfigured WIMAX modems. A criminal case against him relating to this issue is already pending in court.

A previous test-buy was conducted to determine whether he was indeed selling illegal repeaters or signal boosters. Following validation given by the National Telecommunication Commission’s regional office that Lacaron’s Janbarv Co. isn’t authorized by the regulatory body to sell and operate telecommunications equipment, an entrapment operation was arranged.

Following Lacaron’s arrest, criminal charges have been filed against the suspect for violation of Republic Act 8792, also known as the E-Commerce Act, said Atty. Froilan Castelo, Globe Head of Corporate and Legal Services Group.

“We note that the arrested person is a repeat offender. We would like to serve notice that Globe is serious in prosecuting this offense and a habitual delinquent showing no possibility of reform will be dealt with more severity. The law will not allow him any benefit of parole,” Castelo said.

The campaign against illegal repeaters forms part of company efforts to continue improving network experience as the unregulated use of such equipment causes subscribers to experience signal interference that leads to dropped calls, garbled lines, and weak signal.  

Such campaign runs in tandem with the drive against rampant sale of reconfigured WIMAX modems, which are usually sourced from legitimate unsuspecting subscribers on pretext of an upgrade. The hacked modems are then sold at a price range of  PHP2,500 to PHP3,500.

Castelo added that illegal hacking and use of WIMAX modems is a violation of RA 8484 also known as Access Device Act, and Presidential Decree 1612 of the Anti-Fencing Law.