By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

After a man from General Santos City was caught posing as “Police Senior Superintendent Noel Garcia” in San Carlos City earlier this week, NOPPO director, Police Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Castil, yesterday cautioned the public on individuals posing as law enforcement officers.

“Do not immediately believe [them],” he warned. “Ask for proof of identification.”

The impostor, identified as Noel Celestino, was presented to the media by Castil and San Carlos City police chief, Police Superintendent D’Artagnan Katalbas.

Celestino claimed to a group of pastors to be the new NOPPO director and was given P1,500 from the group, along with hotel accommodations.

He was later caught by a police officer, who approached Celestino and inquired about deployment transfers.

According to the police officer, the fake NOPPO director said he would help in reassigning the officer from the San Carlos City Police Station to the Regional Public Safety Battalion.

Celestino, who faces usurpation of authority charges, said everything was a “joke” for him./DGB, WDJ