Legarda Files – “Anti-Theft and Robbery of Portable Telecommunication Devices Act of 2010”

SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA RECOMMENDED IMPOSING STIFFER PENALTIES FOR THE CRIME OF THEFT AND ROBBERY OF PORTABLE TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICES.
Legarda clarified that for purposes of Senate Bill No. 1335 which she filed, “Portable telecommunication device” shall refer to the following:
1. cellular telephones,
2. personal digital assistants,
3. portable computers,
4. two-way very high frequency (VHF) or ultra high frequency (UHF) radios, and
5.other portable communication equipments utilized to transmit messages, documents, photos, images, videos, or information through air, radio or satellite frequencies.
Legarda cited, “The incidents of cellphone snatching at gunpoint are increasing day by day. In most cases, the perpetrators kill their victim upon resistance.”
“There are also incidents when the perpetrator while snatching the cellphone also robs their victims of cash and other valuables.”
Legarda explained, “The main reason why cellphone snatching is rampant is because it can easily be sold in the black market for less than its cost in the open market.”
“It is such a small item that once snatched or stolen, it can be carried by the snatcher or thief undetected. Therefore, cellphones have become an attractive item for felons.”
“There is an urgent need to protect every citizen from cellphone snatchers as well as thieves of other portable telecommunication devices, such as personal digital assistants and portable computers. These items have become indispensable devices for information and communication in our daily lives,” Legarda concluded.