NATIONAL Capital Region Police Office director, Major General Felipe R. Natividad yesterday called on the public to help them jail police impostors in Metro Manila and other parts of the country by immediately reporting their presence to the nearest police station.

“We are asking the citizenry to immediately report the presence of suspected fake cops specifically those wearing police uniforms in their neighborhood so that officers could immediately respond to arrest them,” the Metro Manila police chief told the Journal Group.

The NCRPO chief issued the appeal amid a number of cases wherein police impostors wearing Philippine National Police uniforms and other accoutrements that could be easily procured online or in local stores have brought a negative image to the force after they got involved in criminal and other abusive acts to the consternation of the public.

Even the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency headed by Director General Wilkins M. Villanueva and the National Bureau of Investigation have not been spared by the presence of unscrupulous persons posing as ‘PDEA or NBI agents’ by simply wearing t-shirts and jackets with huge PDEA or NBI markings each time they victimize targets in the country.

Incidents involving fake policemen have even became viral social media items until it turned out that the suspects were not members of the police force at all but were merely impersonating officers, PNP Officer-in-Charge, Lieutenant Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr. likewise lamented.

Lt. Gen. Danao said there have been a number of incidents in which supposed policemen who got involved in robbery-holdup or shooting incidents as well as other abusive acts like indiscriminate firing of weapons were found to be fake policemen when they were arrested by real cops.

Amid their revelations, the PNP-OIC and Maj. Gen. Natividad congratulated the Quezon City Police District headed by Brigadier Gen. Remus B. Medina for immediately arresting a fake cop who was caught on video shooting a street dweller in Q.C. two Sundays ago.

The suspect identified as 25-year old Aurelio Ramos IV was arrested in his residence in Barangay Don Manuel in Galas, Q.C. by members of the QCPD Station 11 following a patient investigation which led in his identification thru the help of witnesses and CCTV footages.

“The suspect was already taken into custody pending the filing of complaints for frustrated homicide, illegal use of uniform and insignia and usurpation of authority. We enjoin the public to be more vigilant following this case of unnecessary violence perpetrated by a suspect who impersonates and taints the pride and honour of our uniform,” said Maj. Gen. Natividad.

The official said the arrest of the suspect should serve as a stern warning to those who will try to impersonate a policeman just to ‘terrorize others’ and commit abusive acts.

“This behavior and flagrant disrespect to the PNP organization is more than unacceptable. We urge the public to immediately inform our office should they have information about a case of similar nature so that we may be able to immediately address the same before causing further danger in our communities,” the NCRPO chief said.

According to Brig. Gen. Medina, the suspect was caught in a surveillance video shooting a street dweller at the corner of D. Tuazon and Lourdes Castillo Street in Q.C. around 6:10 a.m. last Sunday.

The video showed the accused driving an SUV and was about to park in the area when the victim approached his vehicle and spat on the driver’s window.

Irked, the suspect who was seen wearing a PNP FSU or fatigue cut field service uniform alighted from his SUV while holding a gun and confronted the victim. As the latter walked away from the area, the suspect fired a shot that hit the street dweller before fleeing on board his SUV.

The victim was taken to the hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound on his shoulder.

A witness said that he told the suspect that the man who spat on his window is ‘mentally-ill’ but the latter ignored him. The witness said he also got scared after seeing the suspect wearing a policeman’s uniform and holding a gun and thought he was a real cop.

QCPD Station 11 chief, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Ian Ang said his men were able to track down the suspect by following up the records of his SUV with the Land Transportation Office. The LTO provided the police with the records of the vehicle which showed that the suspect was the 3rd registered owner of the SUV.

The suspect admitted he is not a real cop and that he only bought the PNP uniform online.

The suspect will be facing criminal charges for frustrated homicide, violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearm and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 and illegal use of ranks or insignia.

Executive Order 297, Series of 2000 issued in 2000 prohibited the unauthorized manufacture, sale, distribution and use of police uniforms, insignias and other accoutrements of the Philippine National Police.

Article 179 of the Revised Penal Code also states that any persons who publicly and improperly makes use of insignia, uniforms or dress pertaining to an office not held by such person or to class of persons of which he is not a member shall be penalized by arrest mayor.