A man was arrested on Friday in Quezon City for posing as an official of the Special Action Force (SAF), the commando unit of the Philippine National Police.
Robert Esperanza, 49, was in a SAF uniform when accosted by the police on Republic Avenue, Barangay Fairview.
The former overseas worker was also found carrying several fake PNP IDs and an unlicensed .380 pistol.
Esperanza kept two sets of SAF uniforms which he would wear alternately to pose as a police “senior superintendent.”
Speaking to reporters in Camp Crame, Esperanza said he really wanted to be a policeman but flunked the entrance test.
He claimed he had not committed any abuse while in uniform and even helped in the antidrug campaign by “arresting and delivering” suspects to officials in his barangay.
Esperanza faces charges for usurpation of authority and illegal possession of firearms.—JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE