A man posing as an agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) was caught by no less than the agency’s regional director in Cordillera.

PDEA-CAR Regional Director Derrick Carreon said they were about to enter their office before noon on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, when he saw a man wearing a PDEA uniform.

Carreon approached and asked for an ID, but the man failed to present any. He was then brought to the police station for questioning.

Authorities later found that the 35-year-old suspect had been using multiple names and even connected with high-ranking individuals through social media. He also has a previous theft case.

Carreon revealed that since 2021, PDEA had been receiving reports about someone in the region pretending to be an agent, but they never caught him until this incident.

The suspect now faces charges of usurpation of authority, illegal use of insignia, and multiple use of aliases, which have been filed with the prosecutor’s office.

Authorities warned the public that it is illegal to wear or use uniforms and insignias of law enforcement, whether given or bought, without proper authority. Violators will face penalties.