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The Philippine National Police (PNP) has cautioned
the public anew against scrupulous individuals who use the name of
the police force to get away with illegal activities.
“I have ordered all PNP units
to arrest anyone who will defame the police row and its leaders by
stating that they are connected with us so they could go on with
their unlawful actions,” PNP Chief Director General Avelino Razon
Jr. said.
Razon’s warning came a week
after a suspect identified as Cerilo Calvo was arrested on Easter
Sunday after claiming to be his “aide.” Calvo, 27, was caught
unloading P1.2-million worth of hijacked construction materials at
Arty Subdivision in Lawang Bato, Valenzuela City.
Calvo is now facing charges of
usurpation of authority, falsification of public documents, hijacking
and carjacking.
At first, the suspect was able to
convince the authorities that he is indeed a police aide by flashing
his “Mamang Pulis” business card. However, Calvo failed to show
pertinent identification documents.
“The [PNP] cards were given to
the public so that they will be able to contact us immediately when
crimes happen,” PNP Spokesman Senior Superintendent Nicanor
Bartolome said.
“These calling cards, including
the ‘Mamang Pulis’ Volunteer IDs, do not give one the license to
violate the law.”
Razon has earlier ordered the
PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to hunt down a
certain group composed of police officers, lawyers, professionals
and media practitioners, which reportedly uses the official seal of
the PNP in its letters and his official business card to force
people to shell out money for a certain education program of the
police.
--MARICEL V. CRUZ
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