By Ephraim Aguilar (Inquirer)
Last updated 01:53pm (Mla time) 07/17/2006
LEGASPI CITY - Still unidentified thieves made off with the communications cables of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), cutting the agency’s phone communications here for hours even as it continued to monitor restive Mayon Volcano.
"This has happened thrice already since May this year. What these robbers don't realize is that they are toying with public safety with what they are doing," said Alex Baloloy, Phivolcs science research analyst.
Phivolcs has been keeping close tabs on Mayon since it began spewing lava last Friday. Activity of the volcano, famed for its near-perfect cone, increased over the weekend, leading scientists to warn of an impending eruption.
Baloloy said the wires were stolen at around 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. from the Phivolcs observatory.
However, no one witnessed the incident at the facility, which is in a secluded area on Ligñon Hill in Tagas village, Daraga town.
Phone communications were restored only Sunday night when the Digitel Telephone Company replaced the stolen wires.
An angry Albay Governor Fernando Gonzales immediately ordered the provincial police to investigate the matter.
"Certainly, there was a lapse in law enforcement," Gonzales said.
Early this year, two seismometers of Phivolcs were also stolen.
Meanwhile, Phivolcs recorded 314 tremor episodes over the last 24-hours, significantly higher than the previous period’s 111.
Baloloy said this could indicate an increase in the ascension level of magma within the volcano and more burning volcanic rocks coming out from Mayon’s crater.
[Source]
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