Regulation on sale of used cell phones sought

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY - Councilor Edison Bilog sought the adoption of rules to regulate the sale and purchase of second hand or used cellular phones in the city.

In a proposed ordinance, Bilog sought to declare it “unlawful for any person to purchase and/or sell any second hand or used cellular phones without the accompanying original receipt of the original purchase.”

Bilog proposed that in the absence of an original receipt, a certificate of warranty, manual of usage that bears the same serial number of the cellular phone and other certificate of original purchase from the manufacturer may substitute for the original receipt required in the sale and purchase of the cellular phone.

“In the absence of the foregoing requirements, the seller shall be required to produce an Affidavit of Loss that shall state the name of the seller or distributor of the company and serial number of the cellular phone and shall submit the same to the subsequent buyer,” Bilog further proposed.

Bilog said the regulations are needed to stem the illegal sale of cell phones associated with thievery.

“Commerce for second-hand mobile phones is in now becoming in unison with snatching and stealing of such. Snatched or stolen cellular phones are surreptitiously being sold by lawless elements to cellular phone dealers/retailers/resellers or being pawned to pawnshops,” Bilog said.

“Linkage between cellular phone snatching and the proliferation of buying, selling and pawning of cellular phones is undeniable, thus, the need to purchase a unit with accompanying an official receipt is substantially helpful.

As proposed, violators will be meted a 1-30-day imprisonment or a fine of P2,000 or both.

“If the violator or offender is a firm, company, association, corporation, or partnership, its manager, president or chairman of its board of directors, or managing partner shall suffer the penalty or penalties provided for herein as the case may be and the business or firm shall be summarily closed,” the proposal noted.

Bilog’s proposal was approved on first reading and referred to the council committee on trade and commerce for study and recommendation.