Globe is calling for stronger government action against the theft and pilferage of telecommunications equipment, warning that the growing problem is disrupting connectivity and putting critical network infrastructure at risk. The company and its tower company partners have recorded 1,245 pilferage cases as of September 2026, leading to service outages nationwide, with more incidents continuing to be reported.
Each affected site can mean disrupted mobile and data services for customers who rely on connectivity for work, education, business, emergency communications, and access to essential digital services. Beyond the immediate service disruption, repeated theft also undermines investments intended to expand coverage, improve network quality, and strengthen resilience.
“This is no longer simply a matter of stolen equipment. When critical telecommunications infrastructure is damaged or taken, communities can lose connectivity and the investments being made to improve network services are undermined,” said Atty. Froilan Castelo, General Counsel of Globe. “We need stronger, coordinated action across government, law enforcement, local communities, and the telecommunications industry to address this problem.”
Globe is urging the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to help bring together telecommunications operators, tower companies, and relevant government agencies toward a more coordinated response. The company is also seeking stronger participation from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Philippine National Police (PNP), local government units, and barangays nationwide to strengthen prevention and enforcement on the ground.
Barangay and LGU officials play an important role as the first line of defense in communities where telecommunications facilities are located. Globe is calling for closer coordination with community officials and tanods to watch vulnerable facilities, report suspicious activity, and help verify whether individuals working on telecommunications equipment are legitimate and authorized crews. Greater attention should also be given to the illegal sale and purchase of stolen cables, equipment, and other network materials, addressing the market that makes infrastructure theft profitable in the first place.
Existing laws already provide avenues to prosecute theft and the buying or selling of stolen property, including provisions of the Revised Penal Code and the Anti-Fencing Law. Globe believes stronger and more consistent enforcement, supported by coordination among national agencies, LGUs, communities, and industry players, can help deter repeat incidents and hold those responsible accountable.
Telecommunications companies continue to invest heavily in network infrastructure to expand and improve services across the country. When equipment is repeatedly stolen or damaged, resources that could otherwise support network expansion and upgrades have to be redirected toward replacing equipment and restoring affected sites.
Globe continues to work with authorities and industry partners to secure network facilities and restore affected sites as quickly as possible. With pilferage already causing more than a thousand site outages this year, Globe is pushing for a coordinated national response that addresses theft from prevention and community vigilance to enforcement and the illegal resale of stolen telecommunications equipment.
Public Company Information:
PSE: GLO
