CEBU CITY – A nurse was arrested for posing as a policeman in Mandaue City, Cebu on Thursday afternoon, July 20.
GABRIEL Santino Tac-an, a resident of Barangay Hipodromo, Cebu City, was in complete uniform when he was arrested for posing as a policeman in Barangay Basak, Mandaue City, Cebu. (Contributed photo)
The suspect, Gabriel Santino Tac-an, was clad in police uniform and had a police ID when the Basak Police Station nabbed him on J.P. Rizal St. around 2:54 p.m.
Charges await Tac-an as aside from usurpation of authority, he was also caught possessing an unlicensed .38 revolver and two sachets of suspected shabu.
Police Capt. Emmanuel Rabaya, chief of the Basak Police Station, said they received a complaint that Tac-an refused to return the items that he rented.
“The complainant said the suspect threatened him and that he introduced himself as a policeman,” Rabaya said.
An entrapment operation was immediately conducted that led to the suspect’s arrest.
Rabaya said that during the arrest, Tac-an, who lives in a condominium in Barangay Hipodromo, here, introduced himself as a police lieutenant and a graduate of Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Academy Class 2023.
“I did not recognize him. As a PNPA graduate, I know my underclass and upper class,” Rabaya said.
Among the items seized from Tac-an were a police ID and a police badge which were found to be fake, Rabaya said.
“He said he got the ID and the badge from a friend who is also pretending to be a policeman. Operations are already under way to locate his accomplice,” Rabaya said.
Rabaya said Tac-an has victimized at least 15 individuals.
According to Rabaya, the suspect would rent gadgets or equipment such as camera, projectors, and speakers but would refuse to return the items to their owners.
Owners of the equipment later discovered that their items have been sold.
Rabaya said at least seven complainants have surfaced and are willing to file charges against Tac-an, a native of Zamboanga.
“Aside from usurpation of authority, illegal possession of firearms, and possession of illegal drugs, we are still determining what other charges to be filed because there was coercion in some incidents,” said Rabya.