MANILA, Philippines?The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Tuesday again warned the public against criminals posing as anti-narcotics agents, after a similar incident occurred in Caloocan City early this month.

In a statement, PDEA Director General Dionisio Santiago said the agency will be filing charges of usurpation of authority against the suspects in the abduction of tricycle driver Sowaib Musa in Calooocan City last June 8 for using the name of the agency in committing criminal acts.

Musa was abducted by four armed men who introduced themselves as PDEA agents. The suspects demanded a ransom of P300,000 for Musa?s release.

Despite paying P100,000, Musa was still not released. He was able to escape from his captors on June 13.

Two suspects, identified as Jamarie Arcoe and Mildred Dollete, were arrested by the police in a follow-up operation. Three more suspects are still at large.

Recovered from the possession of the suspects are a Norinco caliber .45 pistol and several identification cards.

Upon verification with the PDEA Logistics Management Service, the caliber .45 pistol was found to be not part of the agency?s property list, Santiago said.

A check with the PDEA Administrative and Human Resource Service also revealed that one of the suspects, Junnel Malaluan, was not associated with the agency.

Malaluan had in his possession an ID of the agency as well as an ID from the National Bureau of Investigation.

He called on the public to report suspicious people introducing themselves as PDEA agents through the agency?s hotlines at 920-0735 and 920-0736.