A man who allegedly introduced himself as the new provincial police director of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) was nabbed by San Carlos City police last Monday.

Police identified the suspect as Noel Celestino, a native of General Santos City.

San Carlos City police chief, Police Superintendent D’Artagnan Katalbas, said Celestino went to a gathering of Christian pastors at a local hotel in the city and allegedly started introducing himself as “Police Senior Superintendent Noel Garcia,” the new NOPPO director.

The pastors, believing the suspect, offered him free accommodations at the hotel.

The suspect also asked for P1,500 from the pastors.

A police officer, who happened to be at the hotel at the time, approached Celestino, asking for help in transferring to a new post.

The said cop later found the suspect to be a fake, which resulted in the poser’s arrest.

Katalbas said the suspect is facing the criminal charge of usurpation of authority and is presently detained at the San Carlos City Police Station./DGB, WDJ