(File photo)
MANILA – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, on Friday warned the public against the proliferation of counterfeit peso bills, following the arrest of two people in Cebu City who yielded fake peso bills allegedly set to be circulated for next year’s elections.
“I also instructed the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) and other unit commanders to step up intelligence-gathering and operations, in coordination with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), to ensure that those who benefit from this modus will not be given the opportunity to victimize our kababayans,” said Eleazar in a statement.
He also urged the public to familiarize themselves with the security features of genuine peso bills to avoid falling prey to the use of fake banknotes.
“Maaaring kulong ang sapitin ng sinomang magtatangkang gumamit ng pekeng pera sa anumang transaksyon. Agad ninyong idulog sa pinakamalapit na police station o kaya’y i-report sa ating PNP E-Sumbong platforms kung kayo ay nabiktima o napasahan ng counterfeit na pera para agad ay magawan namin ng kaukulang aksyon at mahuli ang gumagawa nito (Anyone who attempts to use counterfeit money in any transaction could face imprisonment. You should immediately report to the nearest police station or report to our PNP E-Report platforms if you have been a victim or have received counterfeit money so that we can immediately take appropriate action and catch the perpetrator),” he added.
On October 25, the CIDG, together with BSP agents, confiscated PHP88,000 worth of counterfeit peso bills from suspect Ivan Noval Luardo.
Luardo yielded 52 pieces of fake PHP1,000 and 70 pieces of fake PHP500 bills.
On October 19, a certain Joseph Mercado Salas, 36, was also arrested for allegedly making fake peso bills. A total of PHP24,000 worth of counterfeit bills was seized from him by the CIDG and BSP operatives.
The suspects were charged before the City Prosecutor’s Office with violation of Article 168 (Illegal possession and use of false treasury or banknotes and other instruments of credit) in relation to Article 166 of the Revised Penal Code. (PNA)
