Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso announced Monday that an ordinance banning the sale of secondhand cellphones in the city is being drafted.
In a press briefing, Moreno said that the measure on secondhand cellphones will soon be passed.
Despite his warning against malls selling stolen cellphones in the city, Moreno said that another Manila student recently found out that her stolen cellphone was being sold at a mall in Recto.
“Mayroon na naman kaming isang biktima, nag-aaral sa Morayta na na-agawan ng cellphone. Then, ‘yung estudyante naka Find My iPhone, so na-track n’ya [yung cellphone nya],” he said.
“Alam n’yo sabi ng tiga mall sa kanya? ‘Wag ka na mag-complain,” he added, “Imbis na ipasara [ng mall ‘yung tenant], hindi [eh kundi] kinakalo.”
Moreno said that he came up with the decision to completely ban the sale of secondhand cellphones as the city government “cannot distinguish what are legitimate and what are illegally acquired phones.”
Moreno has also given the Recto mall 72 hours to issue their explanation why they still allegedly allowed the sale of stolen mobile phone. He threatened to shut down the mall once the allegation is proven true.
In September, Moreno warned malls operating in the city to stop selling secondhand mobile phones and other gadgets or face closure. (Joseph Pedrajas)
