THE Philippine National Police (PNP) headed by General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil reiterated its warning to the public to be wary of counterfeit money that may be circulated by syndicates as these gangs try to take advantage of the holiday shopping rush to fool people.

PNP spokesperson, Brigadier Gen. Jean S. Fajardo called on the citizenry to be wary of fake P1,000 and P500 bills that may be used by syndicate members to buy goods in small ‘sari-sari’ stores, public markets and even small shops and shopping malls.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) also made the same appeal versus fraudulent notes as it encourages anyone in the know to report use of fake banknotes to the police or the BSP’s Payments and Currency Investigation Group.

At present, existing laws penalize people involved in money counterfeiting.

However, strict laws on production and distribution of counterfeit money have not deterred criminals, thus prompting PNP and BSP authorities to reiterate their call on the citizenry to be vigilant and mindful when exchanging bills in order not to fall victim to bogus bills.

Authorities have also asked the public to remember the following words to tell if a bank note is genuine: Feel, Look, Tilt.

Feel’ because a polymer bill has a smooth texture. ‘Look’ because the polymer bill’s side with the sampaguita icon have embossed lines with the letters BSP and ‘Check’ for the bill’s metallic features that give it luster and rainbow colors.

Lastly, tilt the banknote to find the shadow thread.

Police in many parts of the country have made arrests in connection with the distribution of fake bills.

On December 7 last year, the Southern Police District arrested a 40-year old woman who used a fake P1,000 bill to pay her taxi fare in Taguig City.

The official said that the suspect was apprehended after she gave a bogus P1,000 bill to the cabbie to pay her P150 fare.

It turned out that the woman asked that she be taken to Gate 3 of Chino Roces Extension in Barangay Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City from Malibay, Pasay City.

After reaching her destination, the suspect handed over the P1,000 bill to the driver and demanded her P850 change.

However, the cabbie discovered that what she gave was a fake bill when he thoroughly examined it.

The driver returned the money to the woman who tried to exchange the bill in a nearby convenience store but was also turned down. When she again tried to give the same bill to the cabbie, the latter refused, triggering an argument.

The driver later sought the assistance of officers manning the Taguig City Police Sub-Station 1 who eventually apprehended and charged the suspect.

Police make a number of arrests and seizures pertaining to the circulation of fake bills in the country.

In 2022, some P100,000 worth of counterfeit money were confiscated by agents of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in separate entrapment operations in Cebu City.

One of the suspects yielded 52 pieces of fake P1,000 bills and 70 pieces of counterfeit P500 bills worth P88,000. Another suspect yielded P24,000 worth of fake P1,000 and P500 bills in October 2021.

In their initial inspection, BSP agents revealed that the seized bills were found to be fake as they all failed to show any of the security features a genuine bill has.

The BSP also called on Filipinos to familiarize themselves with the features of the genuine ones to avoid being victimized by these illegal peddlers and also to help avoid the spread of the use of these counterfeit banknotes for legal tender.

Persons arrested for the offense are charge for illegal possession and use of false treasury or banknotes and other instruments under Article 168 of the Revised Penal Code.
With more money circulating this Yuletide Season, the PNP leadership has warned the public anew to be vigilant against the proliferation of fake P1,000 and P500 bills being passed off in different parts of the country by syndicates and con artists.

The PNP underscored the need for the citizenry to be ‘sharp-eyed’ against fake currencies in this period and help authorities catch those circulating them.

In the past, authorities have complained that most victims of counterfeit notes do not report the incident and when duped, they may try to pass on the fake note to other unsuspecting persons.

Brig. Gen. Fajardo issued the same reminder saying that crimes against property like theft and robbery as well as fraud and deceit usually increase during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

“Nagpapaalala ang PNP na mag-ingat po tayo sa ating mga transaksyon kapag tayo ay namimili sa mga palengke, sa mga malls, lalong-lalo na na ganitong pagkakataon na marami tayong mga balikbayan na uuwi at may bitbit na mga remittance,” she said.

In the past, police said many of these counterfeit bills were found to have been distributed by syndicates in different parts of Metro Manila, Ilocos-Pangasinan region and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) regions.

Arrests have been made previously in Pasay City, Binondo, Manila, Cebu City and many parts of Mindanao. In a sting in Pasay City three years ago, officials discovered that the counterfeit money came from Maharlika Area in Taguig City.

The suspects usually sell the fake P1,000 bills for P300 each, thus the police warning for the public to be watchful in receiving money, especially P1,000 bills in their financial transactions.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon