Profile of Lieutenant Candidate Chitphong after appearing alongside Prime Minister Nu at the Lat Phrao brewery fire site reveals he is a reserve officer of the 11th Military Circle in 2023.
On 14 July 2026, reporters reported that online images circulated showing a man dressed like a soldier walking alongside Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, during an on-site inspection of a fire at a brewery in the Lat Phrao area. This sparked public criticism and questions about the man's identity. Previously, he had provided information about the incident, stating that customers had to pay before leaving the venue, and shared some details about the event despite not being present when the fire occurred, leading social media to speculate about his identity and role.
He was later identified as Lieutenant Candidate Chitphong Khattapong, nicknamed Nut, a former candidate for the Bangkok Metropolitan Council representing Phayathai district from the Bangkok Flying Group, who According to military reports, Lieutenant Candidate Chitphong is a reserve commissioned officer without pension, affiliated with the 11th Military Circle Command (Bureau of the 11th Military Circle). He is listed among those promoted according to the Ministry of Defense Order No. 1421/2566 on the Promotion of Reserve Commissioned Officers who underwent military training in 2023, having met the required criteria before being promoted to lieutenant candidate later.
This status indicates he is a reserve commissioned officer under Ministry of Defense regulations, not an active duty military service member.