‘Police Supt.’ arrested at Naia

A 45-year-old man  was arrested Tuesday afternoon for posing as a police official and running an illegal transportation service at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) complex.

Apart from violating vehicle franchise regulations, Dante Aragones is facing charges for usurpation of authority after he produced a fake Philippine National Police  ID in a bid to stop his arrest.

He later admitted that he bought the ID from a counterfeiter on Recto Avenue, Manila.

Naia police department chief Neri Ilagan said Aragones was placed under surveillance last week by his men and a team from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for his unauthorized operations at the airport.

Aragones was driving a sport utility vehicle around 4 p.m. Tuesday, apparently looking for passengers at the arrival area of Naia Terminal 3, when accosted by members of the Airport Police Department (APD) and LTFRB.

Ilagan said Aragones introduced himself as a police superintendent and flashed his “PNP” ID.

When he was brought to the APD office for questioning, his ID was found to be fake since he is not in the roster of active PNP members.

The LTFRB also confirmed that he has no permit to operate a public utility vehicle. Jeannette I. Andrade