Authorities on Tuesday morning arrested a former matinee idol in Malate, Manila for illegal use of siren.

Dranreb Belleza was nabbed when the Toyota Revo he was riding reached Malate Church. He was with his driver when arrested.

ABS-CBN’s “Umagang Kay Ganda” reported that the vehicle, which is said to be owned by the Estrada family, kept circling the area past 4 a.m. while using a car siren. This caused an alarm among residents who immediately reported the incident to the police.

According to Belleza, the siren was meant to scare away prostitutes and pimps in the area.

“There were pimps out there selling women in front of a church… Where are the policemen? Aren’t we supposed to take care of one another?” he said.

He added: “[Somebody might be] selling drugs, probably selling their children. Somebody has to do [something]. Somebody has to wake people up.”

Belleza dismissed the incident as mere “misunderstanding.”

Both Belleza and his driver were reportedly first brought to Ospital ng Maynila to undergo medical tests before going to the police station.

Police will reportedly charge them with violation of Presidential Decree No. 96, which declares as unlawful the use or attachments of sirens on vehicles.

Belleza, who was diagnosed with cancer, stayed in the United States for a very long time to focus on his art works. The son of former actress Divina Valencia decided to go back to the country in December 2007.