Police nab man posing as Army major
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MANILA, Philippines—Police arrested on Friday a man who claimed he was a major in the Philippine Army and was selling fake mission orders to civilians wanting to be intelligence officers.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group raided the house of Danilo Datu, 47, in Barangay San Jose, Rodriguez, Rizal, recovering guns and fake military documents.
Director Benjamin Magalong, CIDG chief, said they learned that contrary to Datu’s claims that he was a major in the Philippine Army, the suspect was not affiliated in any way with the military.
The suspect was arrested at his house following the issuance of a search warrant by Executive Judge Cynthia Marino-Ricablanca of the Regional Trial Court in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.
According to CIDG Metro Manila head Supt. Danilo Macerin, Datu had been introducing himself as a major of the 403rd Community Defense Group, 4th Regional Community Defense Group.
Macerin said the suspect would demand P7,500 from his victims applying for a mission order to become an intelligence officer of the Philippine Army.
The CIDG swooped down on Datu’s house in Kasiglahan Village, Barangay San Jose at around 2:30 a.m. Friday.
Among the documents recovered from him were fake mission orders, memorandum receipts and intelligence IDs.
Also seized were three loaded .38-caliber revolvers, an improvised shotgun and a loaded .45-caliber magazine.
Chief Insp. Arnold Ibay said the suspect has been engaged in the racket for at least two years.
The CIDG learned of the racket after receiving intelligence information about the fake mission orders, after which they checked with the military to find out that Datu was not a military man.
“We also checked and found that he had no license to own firearms,” Ibay said.
The CIDG warned civilians that such transactions should be done in police and military camps.
Datu will be charged with illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives, and usurpation of authority, possession of instruments and illegal use of uniforms.
