Partygoer dressed as cop says sorry
The Halloween partygoer who dressed up as a police officer appeared at the National Police Commission (Napolcom) to apologize on Monday, after Napolcom vice chair and executive officer Rafael Calinisan called him out on social media and threatened to file a case against him if he didn’t apologize to the police force.
Daryll Isidro explained that it was not his intention to disrespect the police uniform.
When he was planning his Halloween costume, “the first thing that came to my mind was characters who defend society. I had no idea during that time [that it would offend]—so sorry,” Isidro said at a press conference at the Napolcom office in Quezon City.
Isidro said he got the costume from a tailor at a shopping center in Quiapo, Manila. Calinisan identified the uniform as a Philippine National Police general office attire type C uniform with the sleeves cut off.
The Napolcom official said he had already instructed the commission’s lawyers to file a case, but withdrew the directive after Isidro’s visit on Monday morning.
Illegal use
Earlier also on Monday, the PNP said it would look into the matter.
“It will be investigated by the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group). He (Isidro) has a right to give his side,” acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a press briefing in Camp Crame.
According to Nartatez, Isidro may be held liable for violation of Article 179 of the Revised Penal Code, pertaining to the illegal use of uniforms or insignia. Violators are prescribed the penalty of arresto mayor or imprisonment from one month and one day to six months.
However, Calinisan appealed to the PNP not to pursue a case.
“If the PNP wants to investigate, I won’t stop them. But we have a remorseful person here. We can allocate our resources somewhere else,” Calinisan said.
The issue also caught the attention of Sen. Francis Pangilinan, who appealed to Napolcom in a post to instead turn its attention to more pressing issues. The police, he stressed, should let reason prevail and calm down.
