Police apprehended a 46-year-old man in Barangay Tanza Uno, Navotas City, on Sunday, Sept. 14, after he was found wearing a Philippine National Police (PNP) uniform and carrying an unlicensed firearm.
Patrolling officers noticed the man sitting in an alley wearing a green camouflage police shirt paired with shorts.
Col. Renante Pinuela, officer-in-charge of the Navotas City Police Station, said the uniform immediately raised suspicion.
“Actually nakaupo siya. Napansin na red flag agad is naka-camouflage siya na green. ‘Yan ‘yung ginagamit ng ating mga mobile forces. Another red flag doon is ‘yung tattoo niya sa left which is visible. ‘Yung mga pulis kasi natin, may tattoo man ‘yan, usually hindi sila naka-expose,” he said. (He was seated and it raised a red flag to us because his uniform was camouflage which is being used by our mobile forces. Another red flag was his tattoo. Our policemen, even if they have tattoos, they normally don't expose them.)
The suspect admitted that he was not a policeman but did not disclose why he was wearing the uniform or where he obtained it.
During inspection, police discovered he was carrying a firearm without a license.
According to the report, the man had previously served a four-year prison sentence for illegal drug charges and was released in 2021.
He also has an outstanding arrest warrant for a loitering case under a Malabon court.
The seized firearm is undergoing ballistic testing to determine if it was used in past crimes.
The suspect is detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and will face charges for illegal use of uniform and insignia under Article 179 of the Revised Penal Code, as well as violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.