Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Monday gave two malls 72 hours to stop the sale of stolen mobile phones inside their establishments or face shutdown.
Domagoso issued the order Monday morning following a recent police discovery of the rampant selling of stolen gadgets at a mall in the city.
He gave two Manila malls 72 hours to comply with his order.
“I will close the entire mall ‘pag patuloy ninyong kinakalinga, pinapayagan ang mga second hand cellphones, vendors na bumibili ng mga nakaw,” Domagoso as he presented several robbery suspects at the Manila City Hall.
Aside from the two malls, Domagoso also ordered the management of other malls in the city to conduct an inspection on their tenants who are selling second-hand mobile phones inside their establishments.
To verify if the mobile phone being sold is not stolen, Domagoso said that those who buy it should get a “proof” from the seller that he really owns it.
“Kapag wala, i-consider n’yo na ito na nakaw,” he said.
About two hours after Domagoso issued the order, the management of one of the malls responded.
“Ayan sumagot na sila: ‘We will comply today. Tumawag ‘yung general manager,” Domagoso said in a forum at the Manila Hotel.
Domagoso said that the effort to stop buying stolen items is one way to ensure the peace of mind of the parents by ridding the “source” and the “outlet.”
“Ayaw kong may iiyak na namang nanay, iiyak na namang tatay na nasaksak ‘yung anak n’ya, namatay anak n’ya na inagawan ng cellphone,” he added.
He also believes that “if there is no one buying stolen items, there will also be no robbers.”
According to the city’s chief executive, stolen mobile phones are being sold by robbers at various malls.
The discovery came after police recently conducted a follow-up operation at a mall following a robbery incident report, he added.
Also, members of the Special Mayor’s Reaction Team (SMaRT) held on Friday an inspection another mall over a report of alleged buying and selling of stolen mobile phones.
The operation led to the confiscation of some 148 assorted brands of phones, Domagoso said.
“Based on record of Manila Police District’s SMaRT, six minors were arrested for robbery snatching,” the public information office (PIO) added.
“Tingnan n’yo ang mga involved, mga bata,” Domagoso said.
Domagoso said that he has already ordered the Manila City Hall’s Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) to inspect all the malls in the city and hold those who sell stolen mobile phones accountable.
Charges for the violation of the anti-fencing law can be filed against those who commit it, Domagoso said. (Joseph Pedrajas)