By Erma Edera

Manila Mayor Francisco Isko Moreno Domagoso urged the public to go to the office of Special Mayor’s Reaction Team (SMART) at the Manila City hall especially those who have lost their cellphones to pickpockets, holduppers and snatchers to see if their mobile phones are among those confiscated by the said unit.

This, after the SMART team continues doing the rounds of cellphone sellers on sidewalks to ensure that no stolen cellphones, known in street lingo as ‘GSM (galing sa magnanakaw)’ cellphones, are being sold to the public.

SMART chief Maj. Jhun Ibay said an initial 148 units of various branded cellphones have been confiscated from malls located along Recto and Binondo.

Domagoso said there will be no distinction in the drive whether the seller is an ordinary street peddler or one who is doing business inside a big establishment.

The mayor stressed the mall owner, the seller of the cellphones and even those buying such cellphones are liable under the law and for violation of P.D. 1612 (Anti-Fencing Law) and Article A-34 (Mayors Permit Fee) in relation to Section 199 of 2013 Omnibus Revenue Code of the City of Manila.

“As a buyer of GSM cellphone, you would never know if the owner of the unit you are buying was seriously wounded or even killed for it, considering that holduppers are usually armed either with bladed weapons or guns and the suspects readily harm their victims once they resist,” he said.

The mayor also reminded that sellers have to show proof of ownership and buyers must look for this, adding that the ‘EMEI’ of each cellphone is distinct and can be the basis of ownership even for victims who would wish to claim their cellphones from SMART.