Manila: Philippine National Police acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. stressed the importance of treating official police uniforms with respect, following a controversial incident involving a civilian wearing a PNP uniform as a Halloween costume.
According to Philippines News Agency, a viral photo showed a civilian wearing a police uniform with ripped sleeves, which caused public outrage among netizens and law enforcement personnel. Nartatez addressed the issue during a press briefing held at Camp Crame, emphasizing the symbolic nature of the PNP uniform as one of service, sacrifice, and integrity. He insisted that the uniform should not be used for costumes or gimmicks.
The incident is currently under investigation by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) for potential violation of Article 179 of the Revised Penal Code, which penalizes illegal use of uniforms and insignias. The investigation aims to discover how the partygoer obtained the police uniform.
Nartatez also directed police units to pursue individuals illegally selling police uniforms. He instructed the Anti-Cybercrime Group to monitor online platforms and work with e-commerce sites to detect and remove unauthorized listings of official or imitation PNP uniforms.
On the same day, the National Police Commission presented the civilian, identified as Daryll Isidro, who publicly apologized for his actions. Nartatez acknowledged Isidro’s apology on social media but highlighted the need for public education regarding the respect for official symbols of authority.
Nartatez expressed appreciation for the apology and urged the public to view the incident as a learning opportunity. He reiterated that the uniform symbolizes the trust and responsibility vested in police officers and should always be treated with respect.
The PNP has been working to address negative perceptions of the police force. This includes a memorandum of agreement with the movie industry regarding the use of police uniforms in media. Past PNP chiefs have also discouraged parents from using the police to scare children and have implemented policies to improve public relations.
