Cellphone pawners must show ownership papers
By Rose Palacio
Davao City (21 January) -- Councilor Pilar Braga, chairperson of the City Council's committee on trade and industry, has filed a resolution requiring all pawnshop owners to require individuals pawning cellular phones to present proof of ownership and other documents.
In her resolution, Councilor Braga said cell phone snatching has increased and there are speculations that most stolen cell phones find their way to mobile phone service centers and pawnshops.
Most pawnshops accept mobile phone units without requiring proof of ownership and similar documents, encouraging individuals with mobile phones obtained through dubious and illegal means to pawn them.
"Requiring pawnee to present proof of ownership would help our police force in checking and tracking down individuals who obtain mobile phone units through illegal means," Braga said.
Braga also said one way of monitoring the buying and selling of second-hand phones is to require all mobile phone centers to submit on a monthly basis. a listing of all second-hand phones bought and sold in their establishment, including other information such as the name and address of the owner or seller, brand and model.
The listing should be submitted to the Davao City Police Office so it can track down stolen mobile cell phones, she said. (PIA-RPalacio) [top]
