MANILA — National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has arrested three individuals - two of whom were found impersonating police officers and carrying illegal firearms, explosives, and police uniforms early morning on Monday in Binondo, Manila.

This, according to NCRPO’s top cop Police Major General Anthony Aberin.

NCRPO said the Manila Police District’s (MPD) Meisic Police Station flagged down a red Mitsubishi Mirage along Yuchengco Street near San Vicente Street at around 4:30 a.m. on April 28. 

Apprehending police personnel says they have observed that two of the suspects were wearing police patrol uniforms and claimed to be members of the Philippine National Police (PNP). However, they failed to present any valid identification or mission orders. A third individual, who was driving the vehicle, was in civilian clothes.

Officers became suspicious when they noticed both uniforms bore the same surname. Further raising alarm, a hand grenade was seen in plain view inside the vehicle’s center console—prompting the immediate arrest of all three individuals.

“During the course of interview, iba-iba na yung statement nila, inconsistent na, saan kayo na-assign, station 4 ng QC, ang sabi Kamuning, station 4 is not Kamuning, di nila kilala sino ang station commander,” said PLtCol Roberto Mupas, chief of Binondo Police Station.

“Ito lang naman is ano lang ito parang naibang sitwasyon lang kasi kinailangan lang nila mag uniporme to cover to make it as a cover para masagawa nila yung surveillance nila, casing nila sa lugar na iyon,” added PLtCol John Guiagui, District Intelligence Division, MPD.

A thorough search yielded a 9mm Pietro Beretta pistol loaded with 15 live rounds, a .45 caliber Taurus pistol with 11 live rounds, a .38 caliber revolver with two live rounds, two hand grenades, two sets of police uniforms, and two pairs of license plates bearing the numbers GH 343A and NKI 8327.

Investigators later found that the suspects had been monitoring a jewelry shop in the area with plans to rob it and kidnap its owner. Surveillance photos, sketches, and diagrams were recovered detailing how the crime was to be carried out.

“Lumalabas sa imbestigasyon ng ating Manila Police District na nandoon sila sa Binondo kasi may bibirahin sila na jewelry shop at saka yung mayari is parang kukunin nila. Actually, kumpleto na yung casing nila at nakunan na nila ng mga picture at lahat lahat may mga drawing sila paano nila isagawa yung sa Binondo,” says NCRPO chief PMGen Anthony Aberin.

One of the suspects was identified as a former police officer dismissed in 2022. The others had no affiliation with the PNP. The civilian driver was also found carrying an unlicensed firearm.

Further investigation revealed their involvement in a robbery hold-up in Sta. Rosa, Laguna and links to a murder case in Plaridel, Bulacan in 2024.

“The investigator of the Laguna, particulary Sta Rosa, Laguna, they were here yesterday and during the conduct of custodial debriefing kasama nila yung victims ng grupo, yung victims mismo ng robbery holdup sa Sta Rosa itinuro sila na sila musmo ang nag gapos sa kanila,” said MPD chief PBGen Benigno Guzman.

“Hindi po bago itong grupo na ito and as I was saying a while ago they have involvement to so many crimes po, may pagpatay po, may panghoholdap at pangingidnap na mga krimen na inamin po nila, based po dun sa nakuha natin cellphone ay may mga pictures pa po na nakasave during their operation po,” said Aberin.

The seized firearms and explosives have been turned over to the MPD Forensic Unit for ballistic examination. 

Investigators are verifying the status of the weapons with the Regional Civil Security Unit (RCSU-NCR) and coordinating with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) regarding gun ban exemptions. Further cross-checking through the Integrated Ballistics Identification System and Human Information Technology System (IBISHITS) is underway to determine any connections to past crimes.

The suspects face multiple charges, including usurpation of authority, illegal use of uniforms and insignia, illegal possession of firearms and explosives, and violation of the Omnibus Election Code in relation to the ongoing COMELEC gun ban.