MANILA, Philippines — A man accused of stealing electrical cables inside the Ayala Tunnel along EDSA in Makati City was arrested minutes after Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) personnel spotted the incident through live CCTV monitoring.
The MMDA said Tuesday that CCTV operators monitoring the tunnel saw the suspect pulling hanging cables and cutting them into pieces at around 10:35 p.m. on Friday.
The agency’s Metrobase unit immediately alerted the Southern Police District-Makati Police Station, triggering a rapid response operation inside the tunnel area.
Police arrested the suspect at around 10:48 p.m. while he was attempting to leave the Ayala Tunnel carrying a backpack, according to the MMDA.
A video released by the agency showed the suspect allegedly dragging the cables inside the tunnel before authorities intercepted him.
The suspect is now under the custody of Makati police and was subjected to inquest proceedings before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Makati.
The incident also underscored the use of the MMDA’s live tunnel surveillance system not only for traffic management but also for detecting crimes and coordinating immediate police response along major Metro Manila roads.
The MMDA urged the public to report suspicious activities and road-related incidents through its 136 hotline.
