Fake police officer nabbed

A MAN, who introduced himself as a member of Philippine National Police (PNP), was arrested by operatives of Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) when he stalked a 16-year-old at the Ceres North Terminal, Bacolod City, Wednesday morning.

Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) director Ricardo De la Paz identified the suspect as Salvador Lausa, 30, of City Heights Subdivision, Barangay Taculing, Bacolod.

Women and Children Complaints Desk (WCCD) head Jovy Cabcaban said the minor went to the city to get her things from her relatives. Around 1 a.m. Wednesday, while she was waiting for her trip going to Cadiz City, she decided to go around the Bacolod Public Plaza.

Cabcaban said the suspect approached the minor and introduced himself as a member of PNP and asked her to have a drink in one of the kiosks in Bacolod Public Plaza.

But around 3 a.m., when the minor was about to leave for her trip going to Cadiz City, the suspect tried to stop her but she managed to escape from the suspect, Cabcaban said.

Cabcaban added that when the minor reached the Ceres terminal, she saw the suspect following her and she asked for help. Fortunately, there were members of RPSB in the area who helped her.

She said the police officers contacted the suspect using the cellular phone of the minor and he was immediately arrested in the area.

During the interrogation, the suspect claimed that he is a police officer assigned in Station 4 but when the police checked his record, he is not a member of PNP or personnel of Station 4.

Cabcaban said the suspect will face charges for violation of Republic Act 7610 and usurpation of authority. She said the family of the minor is also willing to file charges against him.

The suspect is presently detained at the lock-up cell of Station 3.