Aklan DJ in hot water

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

A disk jockey in Aklan is in hot water for his unauthorized use of Philippine National Police (PNP) uniforms.

Acting Aklan police provincial director Senior Superintendent Iver Apellido said the disk jockey was observed wearing the uniform with the word “SPO10”.

Kenneth Loveras also known as  ‘Benjie Parak’ of Love Radio FM Kalibo actually used the PNP uniform as profile picture in a social media account Facebook.

Loveras allegedly posed as PNP officer during the pictorial for the FM radio station website. 

The police director said “it is unlawful for any person or entity to wear the PNP uniform of which he is not a member of the organization.”

Article 179 of the Revised Penal Code penalizes the illegal use of police and military uniforms and insignia. It also prohibits anyone from falsely representing himself as officer, agent or representative of any department or agency of the government.

Republic Act 493 also regulates the wearing, using, manufacturing and selling of insignias, decorations and medals, badges, patches and identification cards prescribed for the military and police authorities by persons not in the service.

The wearing of PNP uniforms by civilians, Apellido said, is causing damage to the reputation of the police.

Apellido vowed to conduct investigation against the disk jockey on the unlawful use of official police uniforms and for falsely representing himself as a police officer.