Police arrest man pretending to be PNP officer in Makati

MANILA, Philippines — A 20-year-old man was arrested in Makati City for allegedly pretending to be a Philippine National Police officer to extort money from a taxi driver, the Southern Police District (SPD) said on Monday.

The SPD identified the suspect as Lenard Atienza, who was arrested at about 8:10 pm on Sunday at East St., Ayala Center, Barangay San Lorenzo.

The arrest stemmed from a report by a security guard and a victim who sought the assistance of Makati City Police Ayala Police Substation.

“According to the report, Dean Mark Ayes y Berida, 43 years old, a security guard was at his post when a taxi driver sought his assistance with a male passenger who introduced himself as a police officer and was asking for money,” the SPD said in a statement.

The suspect was wearing a police athletic uniform and a police field cap which were later confiscated by the authorities as evidence.

The security guard then asked Atienza to present his identification, but he could not provide any, prompting the guard to bring him to the police station.

Atienza faces charges in violation of Art. 177 or Usurpation of Authority and Art. 179 or Illegal Use of Uniforms and Insignia of the Revised Penal Code.

—Maria Liezl Projella, INQUIRER.net trainee

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