Res Gestae
Beware of a fake police or military
Wearing of police or military uniforms and other paraphernalia appeals to both sexes, young and old alike. And, with the mushrooming "UK" (Ukay-Ukay) stalls everywhere, police and military uniforms can easily be accessed nowadays. In a very low price!!!
Camouflage uniforms are not only attractive with its unique features but also because of attributes attached to one wearing them. The "seven colors", "desert storm", "flexi lice" and "camou blue/green" uniforms create an aura of authority, strength, stability, bravery and confidence. It is of no surprise then why we see many individuals clad in police or military uniforms roaming around. Many want to hide their true colors... their identity... their inferiorities. Many want to live for a moment the character they wished they had.
While many live their fantasies by wearing the police and military uniforms, others wear them to perpetrate some evils. Remember the bank robbers or kidnappers in bonnet and camouflage uniform with military or police insignia? Or a couple or more of "police officers" in complete uniforms effecting a Warrant of Arrest or Search Warrant ending to a summary execution or theft on the subject person or domicile?
Indubitably, no criminal wants his identity known or else authority will get an easy lead for his arrest. More so when the perpetrator of the crime is a policeman or a military. But who cares who's fake and who's not? Everyone is concerned with threats caused by these individual or group clad in police or military uniform while committing their nefarious activities. Fake or real, these criminals should be neutralized even before they claim again another life or ransack or rob another bank.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines must be the lead agencies to take this particular concern with urgency. The said pretentious act does not only tarnish the image of the PNP and AFP but also create a general impression that these organizations are inefficient in addressing criminalities in the country.
Hence, before another crime hits the headlines attributing the act to suspected PNP or AFP personnel, massive counter measures should be implemented nationwide. I would suggest that aggressive operations must be undertaken against fake policemen or military clad in PNP or AFP uniforms, and business establishments/tailoring shops selling police/military uniforms without proper authority or not accredited by the PNP or AFP.
We don't want to perpetuate the negative impressions with the police or military. We wish the PNP and AFP achieve their goals of making the profession the noblest of all. They must therefore deny anybody an access to sabotage their efforts of becoming the most credible, reliable and dependable units of the government.
But, while the threat is present, let's just beware of a fake police or military. They might just be in a corner, like lions waiting for someone to devour.
(Send your comments and suggestions to rogatepnp@yahoo.com)