The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has refuted claims that it owns a luxurious Toyota Alphard vehicle, a photo of which went viral on social media.
A photo of a white Toyota Alphard with hood markings “PULISYA” and Philippine National Police (PNP) logo on the side of front door was originally posted on social news aggregation site "Reddit" recently and quickly reposted in other sites, earning the ire of netizens who criticized the organization for supposedly buying luxurious vehicles.
Accordingly, the vehicle was seen traversing along the road with signs Ayala Center, Makati City at the right side of the road.
"Considering the presumption that the place is in Ayala Center, Makati City, we confirm that we have no issued police vehicle with car type and model such as this in NCRPO," the NCRPO said in a statement Thursday, Nov. 10.
The PNP's Police Community Affairs and Development Group (PCADG) said in a separate statement: "The PNP has no record of Toyota Alphard in its Property Book."
The NCRPO said that coordination has been made to determine the authenticity of the photo and locate the owner of the vehicle for the possible filing of charges.
The NCRPO said Executive Order No. 297, Series of 2000, prohibits the unauthorized manufacture, sale, distribution, and use of uniforms, insignias, and other accoutrements of the PNP.
The EO reinforced Article 179 of the Republic Act. No. 3815 or the Revised Penal Code (RA 3815 which states that a penalty of arresto mayor “shall be imposed upon any person who shall publicly and improperly make use of insignia, uniforms, or dress pertaining to an office not held by such person or to a class of persons of which he is not a member.”
"If this vehicle is not a legitimate police car, the illegal use of PNP seal/logo is prohibited in any private or public vehicle and NCRPO will never tolerate this once it is apprehended within our area of jurisdiction," the NCRPO said.
The NCRPO stated that it has alerted all of its units on the ground, particularly the Makati City Police Station where subject vehicle was seen in the viral photo, to verify the identity and legitimacy of the vehicle.
"We will not let anyone to disobey the law for personal and temporal intentions once proven to have transgressed it. Likewise, we urge the general public to immediately report to the authorities any encounter or information pertaining to this incident for appropriate action," it added.