FLASH REPORT...Effective Nationwide...

No more black SWAT uniforms....

MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE) Members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) will no longer be seen wearing their popular black uniforms, National Capital Region Police Office Director Jefferson Soriano said Friday.

Instead, they will be wearing the ordinary blue police uniform, just like all police officers, Soriano told a media forum.

At the same time, Soriano also warned civilians against wearing SWAT or police uniforms.

“Bawal po yun [That is prohibited],” he said.

For civilians fond of wearing SWAT or other police uniforms for gun sport or simply for fun, Soriano advised them to take off the uniforms once they leave the recreational area or not wear the shirt altogether.

The move, Soriano said, was a way to curb criminality, particularly with the rising number of robbery groups posing as members of SWAT or police to gain access to private business establishments.

“They [robbery groups] committed crimes against the people of NCR. They desecrated our uniform. So yun pong kasalanan nila, hindi po mapatawad ng pulis [The PNP cannot forgive their crimes]. Prohibited na ngayon ang SWAT uniform sa [The SWAT uniform is prohibited in] Metro Manila. Walang magsusuot ng itim na uniporme [Nobody will wear the black uniform]. Pag meron, may instructions kami, birahin niyo kaagad [If there is anyone wearing the black SWAT uniform, we are under instructions to get them]. Yun yung tugon po namin sa problemang ito [This is our response to that problem]. It’s a complete turnaround of the SWAT uniform,” he said.

Soriano said they have noted at least three robbery groups, including the Alvin Flores robbery group, whose modus operandi was to pose as members of the police or military force to gain access to an establishment, with the latest such incident happening at the St. Scholastica's College in Manila.

With this, he also said that police were now looking at the possible legal move against retailers and makers of these police t-shirts.

“Tinitignan natin ang legal basis para makumpiska yung nagbebenta ng unauthorized uniform at pati nagtatahi [We are going to look at the legal basis so that we can confiscate those who are selling or sewing unauthorized uniforms]. Sa ngayon walang legal sanctions kasi [Right now, there are no legal sanctions],” Soriano said.

The ban will stay, he said, until they re-assessed the situation again in December.

Soriano has offered a P500,000-reward for any information leading to the arrest of these robbery groups.

He said they have information that could lead to the arrest of these groups.

“Meron na [We have information already]. Please bear with us, and hopefully we will be able to give you positive information,” Soriano said.

Link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20081107-170825/No-more-black-SWAT-uniforms--official

Note: hubarin daw after ng game... reminder lang baka may maipit isa sa atin... sana ma implement nila to.. inga sa paglalaro!!!